A meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved a proposal to grant the national song Vande Mataram the same legal and statutory status as the national anthem Jana Gana Mana. The decision marks a significant development in the legal recognition of India’s national symbols and places the national song and the national anthem on an equal footing under the law.
The proposal was approved during the first Union Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday after the declaration of election results in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, and Puducherry. According to officials, ministers present during the meeting also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi over what they described as the BJP’s historic electoral victory in West Bengal.
Government officials stated that the Cabinet has approved amendments to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act in order to bring Vande Mataram under the same legal framework that currently protects the national anthem. Once the amendment comes into effect, any act considered disrespectful towards Vande Mataram or any attempt to intentionally obstruct its singing will become a cognizable offence under the law.
At present, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act primarily deals with offences involving disrespect towards the national flag, the Constitution of India, and the national anthem. Violations under the existing provisions can attract punishment including imprisonment, monetary fines, or both. With the proposed amendment, these same protections and penalties are expected to be extended to Vande Mataram as well.
Under current legal provisions, any person found intentionally preventing or disrupting the singing of the national anthem can face imprisonment of up to three years, a fine, or both. Repeat offenders can also face a mandatory minimum jail sentence of one year. According to officials, similar legal consequences are expected to apply to offences related to the national song once Parliament approves the amendment.
Vande Mataram, composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, occupies a prominent place in India’s freedom movement and cultural history. The song became an important symbol during the anti-colonial struggle against British rule and has long been associated with nationalist sentiment and patriotic movements across the country.
The timing of the Cabinet decision is also considered politically and symbolically important because India is currently marking the 150th anniversary of the composition of Vande Mataram. Officials indicated that this milestone added additional significance to the government’s move to formally elevate the legal status of the national song.
Government sources also pointed out that similar amendments had previously been introduced in 2005 to address and prevent disrespectful use of the national flag. The demand to provide Vande Mataram with legal status equal to the national anthem had reportedly gained momentum during a special discussion held in Parliament in December last year on the occasion of the song’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
The proposed amendment is expected to be introduced in Parliament in the coming days. If passed by both Houses, it would mark a major shift in India’s legal framework governing national symbols and significantly expand statutory protections currently reserved for the national anthem and the national flag.
The Cabinet decision has already triggered political and constitutional debate in several quarters, with supporters describing the move as recognition of the historical and cultural importance of Vande Mataram, while critics have raised concerns regarding constitutional interpretation, freedom of expression, and the broader implications of granting the national song legal status equal to the national anthem.
