Punjab's governor Gulab Chand Kataria has given his assent to the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced on Sunday. The law introduces harsher penalties — including life imprisonment and fines of up to ₹2.5 million (approximately $30,000) — for acts of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of Sikhism and one of the most revered texts in the religion. The move is significant in Punjab (India's only Sikh-majority state), where desecration of the scripture has historically triggered widespread unrest and political controversy.