The Punjab (a state in northwestern India and the heartland of Sikhism) assembly unanimously passed the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026, on Monday, introducing life imprisonment and fines of up to ₹25 lakh (roughly $30,000) for acts of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib, the central holy scripture of Sikhism. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann presented the legislation during a special session, arguing it closes loopholes left by previous administrations. The bill carries significant weight in Punjab, where desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib has repeatedly sparked public unrest in recent years.