UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Amid uproar, Parliament passes Bill making insult to National Song punishable

Q1. Which one of the following national symbols is dealt with by the very first penal provision (Section 2) of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, alongside the Constitution of India?

  • A. The National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana
  • B. The National Song, Vande Mataram
  • C. The Indian National Flag
  • D. The State Emblem of India

Q2. Consider the following statements regarding the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971: 1. Section 2 punishes disrespect to the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. 2. For the purposes of the Act, the expression "Indian National Flag" includes any picture, painting, drawing or photograph, or other visible representation of the flag. 3. A second or subsequent conviction under the Act attracts a maximum, and not a minimum, sentence of one year's imprisonment. 4. Before the amendment of 2026, the section penalising prevention of singing extended to the National Anthem as well as the National Song. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. Section 2 punishes disrespect to the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both.
  2. For the purposes of the Act, the expression "Indian National Flag" includes any picture, painting, drawing or photograph, or other visible representation of the flag.
  3. A second or subsequent conviction under the Act attracts a maximum, and not a minimum, sentence of one year's imprisonment.
  4. Before the amendment of 2026, the section penalising prevention of singing extended to the National Anthem as well as the National Song.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 and 4
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q3. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 substitutes Section 3 of the parent Act. As substituted, the offence under that section consists of:

  • A. Intentionally preventing the singing of the National Anthem or the National Song, or causing disturbance to any assembly engaged in such singing
  • B. Refusing to stand up when the National Anthem or the National Song is being played at any public function or in a cinema hall
  • C. Publishing or performing a distorted or abridged version of the National Anthem or the National Song for any commercial purpose
  • D. Displaying the National Anthem or the National Song upon any substance in a manner inconsistent with the Flag Code of India

Q4. Which one of the following correctly states the House in which the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was introduced and the provision of the parent Act that it amends?

  • A. Introduced in the Lok Sabha; amends Section 2 of the Act of 1971
  • B. Introduced in the Rajya Sabha; amends Section 3 of the Act of 1971
  • C. Introduced in the Rajya Sabha; amends Section 2 of the Act of 1971
  • D. Introduced in the Lok Sabha; amends Section 3A of the Act of 1971

Q5. Consider the following statements about Vande Mataram and the works associated with it: 1. The novel Anandamath was written by Rabindranath Tagore, whereas the song Vande Mataram itself was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee. 2. Vande Mataram was first published in the journal Bangadarshan several years before it appeared in the novel Anandamath. 3. The song was set to music by Rabindranath Tagore and was sung at a session of the Indian National Congress in 1896. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The novel Anandamath was written by Rabindranath Tagore, whereas the song Vande Mataram itself was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee.
  2. Vande Mataram was first published in the journal Bangadarshan several years before it appeared in the novel Anandamath.
  3. The song was set to music by Rabindranath Tagore and was sung at a session of the Indian National Congress in 1896.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q6. Consider the following statements about the history of Vande Mataram: 1. It was first published on 7 November 1875. 2. It was adopted as a song of the Swadeshi movement in 1905. 3. The statement according it equal honour with the National Anthem was made by the President of the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950. 4. It was first included in the novel Anandamath, and only later published separately in a literary journal. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It was first published on 7 November 1875.
  2. It was adopted as a song of the Swadeshi movement in 1905.
  3. The statement according it equal honour with the National Anthem was made by the President of the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950.
  4. It was first included in the novel Anandamath, and only later published separately in a literary journal.
  • A. 1 and 3
  • B. 2 and 4
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 4 only

Q7. The equal honour accorded to Vande Mataram alongside the National Anthem derives from which one of the following?

  • A. A statement made by the President of the Constituent Assembly on 24 January 1950
  • B. An express provision inserted in Part IV-A of the Constitution of India
  • C. A resolution adopted by Parliament under Article 51A(a) of the Constitution
  • D. A notification issued under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971

Q8. The "Orders relating to the National Anthem of India", and the advisories to States and Union Territories on showing due respect to the National Anthem and the National Song, are issued by which one of the following?

  • A. The Ministry of Culture
  • B. The Ministry of Law and Justice
  • C. The Ministry of Home Affairs
  • D. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs

Q9. Consider the following statements regarding the passage of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026: 1. The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha before it was passed by the Lok Sabha. 2. In the Lok Sabha the Bill was passed by a voice vote, and the amendments moved by the Opposition were rejected. 3. Kanimozhi of the DMK opposed the Bill as advancing a "Hindutva agenda" and as being against federalism. 4. The Bill was taken up and passed during the Winter Session of Parliament. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha before it was passed by the Lok Sabha.
  2. In the Lok Sabha the Bill was passed by a voice vote, and the amendments moved by the Opposition were rejected.
  3. Kanimozhi of the DMK opposed the Bill as advancing a "Hindutva agenda" and as being against federalism.
  4. The Bill was taken up and passed during the Winter Session of Parliament.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 2 and 3
  • C. 4 only
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q10. With reference to the Lok Sabha's consideration of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, consider the following: 1. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, replying to the debate, stated that the law would give Vande Mataram a status on par with the National Anthem. 2. The DMK argued that the founders had deliberately retained only two stanzas of Vande Mataram. 3. The Bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee before being taken up for passage in the Lok Sabha. 4. The Bill was passed after a debate in which only two members participated. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. The Minister of State for Home Affairs, replying to the debate, stated that the law would give Vande Mataram a status on par with the National Anthem.
  2. The DMK argued that the founders had deliberately retained only two stanzas of Vande Mataram.
  3. The Bill was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee before being taken up for passage in the Lok Sabha.
  4. The Bill was passed after a debate in which only two members participated.
  • A. 1 and 3 only
  • B. 1, 2 and 4
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1 and 4 only

Q11. Under Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, the conduct made punishable in relation to the Indian National Flag and the Constitution of India is best described as:

  • A. Every act of criticism of the Constitution or of the design of the National Flag, whether committed in public or entirely in private
  • B. Only the physical destruction of the National Flag or of a printed copy of the Constitution, spoken or written words being expressly excluded
  • C. Exclusively such acts as are committed in the course of a public assembly convened for a political purpose
  • D. Burning, defacing, trampling upon or otherwise showing disrespect to them, whether by words or by acts, in a public place or within public view

Q12. In Bijoe Emmanuel v. State of Kerala (1986), the Supreme Court of India held that:

  • A. Refusal to sing the National Anthem in a school assembly is an offence under the Act of 1971, irrespective of the religious belief of the student concerned
  • B. Students who stood up respectfully but did not join in singing the National Anthem on grounds of religious faith could not be expelled from school
  • C. The National Anthem and the National Song stand on an equal footing, and disrespect to either attracts identical penal consequences under the Act of 1971
  • D. Playing of the National Anthem before the screening of films in cinema halls is mandatory, and all persons present must stand up to show respect