The Punjab Governor, Gulab Chand Katariya, has given his assent to the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill 2026, confirming its status as law. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced this development after the Punjab Assembly unanimously passed the Bill during a special session on Baisakhi. The legislation is aimed at creating a stringent legal framework to protect the Guru Granth Sahib, which Sikhs regard as their eternal Guru. Under the new law, any act of sacrilege will incur severe penalties, including a minimum imprisonment of seven years, potentially extending to 20 years, alongside fines ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹10 lakh. If sacrilege is committed as part of a conspiracy to disturb communal harmony, the penalty escalates to a minimum of 10 years and can extend to life imprisonment, with fines between ₹5 lakh and ₹25 lakh. This Bill builds upon the 2008 Act and introduces significant amendments, including a broader definition of sacrilege that encompasses not only physical acts but also symbolic and electronic actions that may hurt religious sentiments. The legislation mandates the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to maintain a centralized register of all copies of the Guru Granth Sahib, ensuring rigorous oversight and accountability. This approval marks a significant step following previous unsuccessful attempts to legislate similar protections in 2016 and 2018, which failed to receive Presidential approval.