NEW DELHI, JUL 30 (PTI/AGENCIES): Parliament on Thursday passed two key bills, strengthening penalties for paper leaks in public examinations and extending legal protection to the national song Vande Mataram.
Anti-paper leak bill passed: The Rajya Sabha approved the Public Examination (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 by voice vote amid an Opposition walkout, a day after it was passed by the Lok Sabha.
The law prescribes imprisonment of five to 10 years and a fine of up to Rs 50 lakh for paper leak offences, while organised crimes will attract a minimum of seven years’ imprisonment and fines up to Rs 10 crore.
It also empowers states and Union Territories to designate fast-track courts, mandates completion of trials within three months of filing charge sheets, and allows the Centre to constitute a special task force for investigations.
Vande Mataram bill passed: Parliament also cleared the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, making insult to Vande Mataram a punishable offence and placing it on par with the national anthem Jana Gana Mana. Existing penalties under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act—imprisonment up to three years, fine or both, with enhanced punishment for repeat offenders—will now apply to the national song.
Opposition objects: Opposition parties criticised the legislation, alleging it violated the Constitution’s secular character, infringed religious freedom and sought to impose the full version of Vande Mataram despite the Constituent Assembly approving only its first two stanzas.
DMK MP Kanimozhi termed the Bill divisive, while party colleague A. Raja accused the government of “committing fraud” by claiming the Constituent Assembly had approved the full composition.
TMC’s Saugata Roy described the legislation as unnecessary. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi argued that Vande Mataram violated Articles 25, 26 and 29 of the Constitution, calling it a prayer and alleging the Bill was aimed at turning India into a “Hindu theocratic country”. Congress MP Deepender Singh Hooda described Vande Mataram as a symbol of patriotism rooted in the freedom movement but cautioned against politicising it.
Friday, July 31, 2026