Crime & Law · India
Parliament Passes Bills on National Song Insult and Exam Malpractice
The Rajya Sabha passed the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, making insult to 'Vande Mataram' a criminal offense, by a voice vote. Separately, the Lok Sabha passed the Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026, aimed at combating examination malpractices with stricter penalties. Education Minister Pralhad Joshi stated the bill seeks to dismantle the paper leak ecosystem. The Lok Sabha was adjourned for the day after the bill's passage.
How outlets across the spectrum covered it
Left 3 · Centre 13 · Right 4 n = 20
- Left (3): National Herald, Scroll.in, The News Minute
- Centre (13 votes, 14 outlets): Amar Ujala, Deccan Chronicle, Greater Kashmir, Hindustan Times, Jansatta · The Indian Express (Indian Express Group — 1 vote), LiveLaw, Mathrubhumi English, NDTV, Telangana Today, The Free Press Journal, The New Indian Express, The Print, The Times of India
- Right (4): Firstpost, India Today, Republic World, The Pioneer