Why in News?
The 72nd National Film Awards, recognising achievements in Indian cinema for the year 2024, were announced on 18 July 2026. The President of India will present the awards on 22 September 2026 at Ekta Nagar (formerly Kevadia), Gujarat. The National Film Awards are among India’s most prestigious honours for excellence in cinema.
About National Film Awards
The National Film Awards were instituted in 1954 by the Government of India following the recommendations of the Film Enquiry Committee (1949). They were established to recognise and encourage artistic and technical excellence in Indian cinema. The first edition honoured films released in 1953 and covered three categories—Feature Films, Documentary Films and Children’s Films.
Awards for actors and technicians were introduced separately for films of 1967. Uttam Kumar and Nargis received the first Best Actor and Best Actress awards in 1968, then known as Bharat and Urvashi, respectively. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India’s highest cinema honour, was instituted in 1969 and was first awarded to Devika Rani.
The National Film Awards are organised into three sections—Feature Film, Non-Feature Film, and Best Writing on Cinema—along with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award as a lifetime honour. The Non-Feature Film section covers documentaries, short films, animation and other allied forms, while the Best Writing on Cinema section recognises outstanding books and film criticism.
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