The Rajya Sabha has passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, widely referred to as the Vande Mataram Bill, extending legal protection to India’s National Song, Vande Mataram, on par with the National Anthem. However, the legislation does not make singing Vande Mataram mandatory and does not criminalise individuals who choose not to sing it. What Exactly Does the Vande Mataram Bill Change? Importantly, the Bill does not create an obligation for individuals to sing Vande Mataram. It was officially recognised as the National Song, while Jana Gana Mana was adopted as the National Anthem.