Besides certain national categories under which the best films of the year are felicitated, awards are given to the best feature films from each language group. There is also a Special Jury Award. A national panel selects the award-winning films and film personalities from a large number applications. The same panel chooses the category under which an award is given to a particular film. The awards include mementos and cash prizes.

 At the awards ceremony in Delhi, the President of India distributes the awards. The ceremony is followed by the inauguration of the National Film Festival, in which the award-winning films are screened for the public.

Entry form for 53^rd National Film Awards for films produced between 1^st January 2005 & 31^st December 2005 / Books on Cinema published between 1^st January 2005 & 31^st December 2005 will be released soon.