UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026

Q1. In the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971, which one of the following forms of conduct is dealt with by the very first penal section of the Act?

  • A. Intentionally preventing the singing of the Indian National Anthem, or causing disturbance to an assembly engaged in such singing
  • B. A second or subsequent conviction under the Act, for which a minimum term of imprisonment of one year is prescribed
  • C. Burning, mutilating, defacing or otherwise showing disrespect to the Indian National Flag or the Constitution of India in any public place
  • D. Improper use of the name or pictorial representation of the National Emblem for the purposes of any trade or business

Q2. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 is administered by, and its 2026 amending Bill was piloted in Parliament by, which one of the following Union Ministries?

  • A. The Ministry of Culture, which is the nodal ministry for national commemorations
  • B. The Ministry of Law and Justice, acting through its Legislative Department
  • C. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, which coordinates Government business in Parliament
  • D. The Ministry of Home Affairs, which also handles Centre-State relations and internal administration

Q3. Under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026, the conduct made punishable in respect of the National Song is precisely which one of the following?

  • A. Failing to stand up when the National Song is played at a place of public entertainment or a cinema hall
  • B. Mutilating, defacing or bringing into contempt any printed or publicly displayed text of the National Song
  • C. Intentionally preventing the singing of the National Song, or causing disturbance to any assembly engaged in such singing
  • D. Rendering the National Song in an abridged or altered version at an official function of the State

Q4. The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 achieves its principal object by substituting which one of the following statutory provisions?

  • A. Section 2 of the 1971 Act, dealing with insults to the Indian National Flag and the Constitution of India
  • B. Section 3 of the 1971 Act, dealing with prevention of the singing of the Indian National Anthem
  • C. Section 3A of the 1971 Act, dealing with minimum penalties on second and subsequent offences
  • D. Section 3 of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, dealing with national insignia

Q5. With reference to the origin of the National Song 'Vande Mataram', which one of the following statements is correct?

  • A. It was composed exclusively for the novel Anandamath and had never appeared in print before that novel was published.
  • B. It was adopted as the National Song by a resolution of the Constituent Assembly written into the text of the Constitution.
  • C. It has been sung at every annual session of the Indian National Congress since the foundation of the Congress in 1885.
  • D. It first appeared in print in the Bengali periodical Bangadarshan in 1875, before being incorporated into a novel.

Q6. Consider the following items associated with the history of the National Song 'Vande Mataram': 1. Bangadarshan — the periodical in which the song first appeared in print, in 1875. 2. Anandamath — the novel of 1882 into which Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay incorporated the song. 3. The 1896 Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress — the occasion of the song's first public rendition, sung by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay himself. 4. Akshaya Navami — the day, corresponding to 7 November 1875, on which the song is believed to have been written. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Bangadarshan — the periodical in which the song first appeared in print, in 1875.
  2. Anandamath — the novel of 1882 into which Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay incorporated the song.
  3. The 1896 Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress — the occasion of the song's first public rendition, sung by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay himself.
  4. Akshaya Navami — the day, corresponding to 7 November 1875, on which the song is believed to have been written.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1, 2 and 4
  • D. 1, 3 and 4

Q7. Which one of the following correctly describes the position taken on 24 January 1950 with regard to 'Vande Mataram'?

  • A. The Assembly resolved that Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana would jointly constitute the National Anthem, to be sung alternately.
  • B. The Assembly designated Vande Mataram as the National Anthem of India and Jana Gana Mana as the National Song of India.
  • C. The Assembly conferred on Vande Mataram the very penal protection that the National Flag was later given by a statute of 1971.
  • D. The Assembly's President declared that Vande Mataram shall be honoured equally with Jana Gana Mana and have equal status with it.

Q8. Consider the following statements regarding the relative position of 'Jana Gana Mana' and 'Vande Mataram' as settled on 24 January 1950: 1. 'Jana Gana Mana' was declared on that day to be the National Anthem of India. 2. The same declaration accorded 'Vande Mataram' equal honour and equal status with the National Anthem, although the song is not named in the text of the Constitution. 3. Unlike the National Anthem, the National Song was simultaneously given express penal protection through a separate provision enacted for that purpose. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. 'Jana Gana Mana' was declared on that day to be the National Anthem of India.
  2. The same declaration accorded 'Vande Mataram' equal honour and equal status with the National Anthem, although the song is not named in the text of the Constitution.
  3. Unlike the National Anthem, the National Song was simultaneously given express penal protection through a separate provision enacted for that purpose.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q9. The year-long nationwide commemoration of 150 years of the National Song, inaugurated on 7 November 2025, is organised at the national level by which one of the following?

  • A. The Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, Government of India
  • B. The Ministry of Culture, Government of India
  • C. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India
  • D. The Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India

Q10. Consider the following in connection with the commemoration of 150 years of the National Song 'Vande Mataram': 1. 1 October 2025 — the date of the Union Cabinet resolution deciding that the coming year would be celebrated as a tribute to Vande Mataram. 2. 7 November 2025 — the inauguration of the year-long commemoration by the Prime Minister at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi. 3. 7 November 2026 — the date on which the year-long commemoration is scheduled to conclude. 4. August 2026 — the first of the four phases into which the commemoration has been divided. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. 1 October 2025 — the date of the Union Cabinet resolution deciding that the coming year would be celebrated as a tribute to Vande Mataram.
  2. 7 November 2025 — the inauguration of the year-long commemoration by the Prime Minister at the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi.
  3. 7 November 2026 — the date on which the year-long commemoration is scheduled to conclude.
  4. August 2026 — the first of the four phases into which the commemoration has been divided.
  • A. 1 and 2 only
  • B. 2, 3 and 4
  • C. 1 and 4 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3

Q11. Consider the following statements regarding the legal protection of India's national symbols: 1. The Indian National Flag is among the objects protected by Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971. 2. The Constitution of India is among the objects protected by that same Act. 3. The National Song 'Vande Mataram' is expressly named in the text of the Constitution of India as a national symbol. 4. Before the amendment of 2026, disrupting the singing of the National Song attracted the same statutory punishment as disrupting the National Anthem. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. The Indian National Flag is among the objects protected by Section 2 of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971.
  2. The Constitution of India is among the objects protected by that same Act.
  3. The National Song 'Vande Mataram' is expressly named in the text of the Constitution of India as a national symbol.
  4. Before the amendment of 2026, disrupting the singing of the National Song attracted the same statutory punishment as disrupting the National Anthem.
  • A. 1 and 2
  • B. 3 only
  • C. 3 and 4
  • D. 2, 3 and 4

Q12. Consider the following statements regarding the passage of the Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 as compared with the parent Act of 1971: 1. The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in July 2026 and was thereafter passed by both Houses of Parliament. 2. Whereas the 1971 Act prescribes a maximum of three years' imprisonment, the Bill prescribes a mandatory minimum of three years for a first offence relating to the National Song. 3. The Bill was referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs before it was taken up for passing. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

  1. The Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in July 2026 and was thereafter passed by both Houses of Parliament.
  2. Whereas the 1971 Act prescribes a maximum of three years' imprisonment, the Bill prescribes a mandatory minimum of three years for a first offence relating to the National Song.
  3. The Bill was referred to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Home Affairs before it was taken up for passing.
  • A. 1 only
  • B. 1 and 2 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 3