The Indian Union Cabinet has approved a significant amendment to the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which will place the national song Vande Mataram on par with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana. Once the amendment is passed by Parliament, any intentional disruption or disrespect during the singing of Vande Mataram will be punishable by penalties, including imprisonment for up to three years. This decision reflects the government's commitment to formalizing the performance protocol for Vande Mataram, similar to the strict rules already in place for the national anthem. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs had previously issued guidelines stating that all six stanzas of Vande Mataram should be sung within 3 minutes and 10 seconds at official functions, and that it should precede Jana Gana Mana during performances. This legislative move is politically significant, coinciding with the BJP's celebrations of Vande Mataram and the party's recent electoral success in West Bengal, the birthplace of the song's author, Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. Historically, Vande Mataram has been a symbol of Indian nationalism, though its later stanzas have faced opposition from various leaders, including Muhammad Ali Jinnah.