‘Can respect be legislated?’: Tharoor's ‘12 minutes’ question as new law for Vande Mataram okayed by President

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor expressed concerns on Tuesday about the practical implications of the recently passed Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Act, 2026, following its assent by President Droupadi Murmu. Tharoor pointed out that the amendment mandates the singing of the National Song, Vande Mataram, on an equal footing with the National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana, for an additional six minutes at the start and end of official functions.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP argued that human nature and limited patience should be taken into account when considering such a requirement. He expressed doubt that the law would successfully promote greater respect for Vande Mataram, instead potentially having the opposite effect. The amendment, which makes the singing of Vande Mataram compulsory in official functions, carries potential criminal penalties for those who obstruct the song's rendition.

However, the law itself does not directly require the singing of all six stanzas of Vande Mataram. The new requirement stems from a government circular that was issued earlier this year. While some states, such as Kerala, oppose mandating the singing of Vande Mataram in its entirety, the BJP-led government views Vande Mataram as a key part of India's freedom struggle.