The National Film Awards are highly esteemed accolades for artistic and technical merit within the Indian film industry. Established in 1954, they are presented annually by the President of India in New Delhi. The awards aim to encourage the production of films that demonstrate aesthetic and technical excellence, possess social relevance, and contribute to the understanding and appreciation of India's diverse cultures in cinematic form, thereby promoting national unity and integrity. Categories include Feature Films, Non-Feature Films, and Best Writing on Cinema. The awards were administered by the Directorate of Film Festivals from 1973 until 2020, and by the NFDC since 2021.