Top news of the day: Bill criminalising insult to Vande Mataram becomes law; ABVP supporters detained during march to Jharkhand Assembly; and more
The Indian government has enacted a law criminalizing the disruption of the national song 'Vande Mataram', granting it legal protections similar to the national anthem. Additionally, the Lok Sabha passed a bill to rename Kerala to 'Keralam', while various state-level political and legal developments occurred across India.
Why it matters
This reflects significant legislative shifts regarding national identity and administrative changes in India, impacting both cultural policy and state governance.
President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) gave assent to a Bill that criminalises intentional disruption or prevention of the singing of the national song ‘Vande Mataram’, giving it the same legal protection currently accorded to the national anthem, a government statement said. With the President’s assent, the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, has become a law.
Several ABVP workers were detained during their march to the Jharkhand Assembly here to protest against police action on students agitating over alleged irregularities in recruitment examinations in the state, a senior officer said.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in