Here’s a list of some of the prominent National Film Awards in India:
| Category | Award Titles | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime Achievement Award | Dadasaheb Phalke Award | Honors lifetime contribution to Indian cinema |
| Feature Film Awards | Golden Lotus Award (Swarna Kamal) | Recognizes excellence in feature films |
| Best Feature Film | Awarded to the overall best feature film of the year | |
| Best Director | Recognizes the best direction in a feature film | |
| Best Popular Film Providing Wholesome Entertainment | Acknowledges popular films with wholesome content | |
| Best Children’s Film | Awarded to the best film suitable for children | |
| Best Debut Film of a Director | Recognizes the best directorial debut in feature films | |
| Best Animated Film | Awarded to the best animated feature film | |
| Silver Lotus Award (Rajat Kamal) | Recognizes excellence in various aspects of filmmaking | |
| Best Actor | Awarded to the best performance by an actor | |
| Best Actress | Awarded to the best performance by an actress | |
| Best Supporting Actor | Recognizes the best supporting performance by an actor | |
| Best Supporting Actress | Recognizes the best supporting performance by an actress | |
| Best Child Artist | Awarded to the best performance by a child artist | |
| Best Music Direction | Recognizes excellence in music direction for films | |
| Best Male Playback Singer | Awarded to the best male playback singer for a film song | |
| Best Female Playback Singer | Awarded to the best female playback singer for a film song | |
| Best Lyrics | Recognizes excellence in song lyrics for films | |
| Best Art Direction | Awarded for excellence in art direction and production design for films | |
| Best Audiography | Recognizes excellence in sound recording and design for films | |
| Best Choreography | Awarded for excellence in choreography for film dance sequences | |
| Best Cinematography | Recognizes excellence in cinematography for films | |
| Best Costume Design | Awarded for excellence in costume design for films | |
| Best Editing | Recognizes excellence in film editing | |
| Best Make-up | Awarded for excellence in make-up and hairstyling for films | |
| Best Screenplay | Recognizes excellence in screenplay writing for films | |
| Best Special Effects | Awarded for excellence in visual effects and CGI for films | |
| Best Stunt Choreography | Recognizes excellence in stunt choreography for films | |
| Special Jury Award | Awarded by special jury recognition for outstanding contribution to films | |
| Special Mention | Honorable mention for outstanding performances or contributions in films | |
| Best Film on Environment Conservation / Preservation | Recognizes films with outstanding portrayal of environmental issues or conservation efforts | |
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Recognizes films with outstanding portrayal of family welfare issues | |
| Best Film on National Integration | Recognizes films promoting national integration and unity | |
| Best Film on Other Social Issues | Recognizes films addressing various social issues | |
| Best Feature Film in various Indian languages (Assamese, Bengali, Bodo, Dogri, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu) | Recognizes the best feature film in each specified Indian language | |
| Best Feature Film in languages not specified in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India (Bhojpuri, English, Khasi, Kodava, Kokborok, Monpa, Tulu) | Recognizes the best feature film in languages not included in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution | |
| Discontinued Awards (Second Best Feature Film, Third Best Feature Film, Best Story) | Awards that were previously given but have been discontinued | |
| Non-Feature Film Awards | Golden Lotus Award (Swarna Kamal) | Recognizes excellence in non-feature films |
| Best Non-Feature Film | Awarded to the overall best non-feature film of the year | |
| Best Director | Recognizes the best direction in a non-feature film | |
| Silver Lotus Award (Rajat Kamal) | Recognizes excellence in various aspects of filmmaking for non-feature films | |
| Best First Film of a Director | Recognizes the best directorial debut in non-feature films | |
| Best Audiography | Recognizes excellence in sound recording and design for non-feature films | |
| Best Cinematography | Recognizes excellence in cinematography for non-feature films | |
| Special Jury Award / Special Mention | Awarded by special jury recognition for outstanding contribution to non-feature films | |
| Best Editing | Recognizes excellence in film editing for non-feature films | |
| Best Music Direction | Recognizes excellence in music direction for non-feature films | |
| Best Narration / Voice Over | Recognizes excellence in narration or voice-over for non-feature films | |
| Best Agriculture Film | Recognizes films focusing on agriculture-related topics | |
| Best Animation Film | Recognizes excellence in animated films | |
| Best Anthropological / Ethnographic Film | Recognizes films focusing on anthropological or ethnographic subjects | |
| Best Arts / Cultural Film | Recognizes films focusing on arts and culture | |
| Best Biographical Film | Recognizes films focusing on biographical subjects | |
| Best Educational / Motivational / Instructional Film | Recognizes films with educational or motivational content | |
| Best Environment/Conservation/Preservation Film | Recognizes films focusing on environmental conservation or preservation | |
| Best Exploration / Adventure Film | Recognizes films focusing on exploration or adventure | |
| Best Film on Family Welfare | Recognizes films with outstanding portrayal of family welfare issues | |
| Best Historical Reconstruction / Compilation Film | Recognizes films focusing on historical events or figures | |
| Best Investigative Film | Recognizes films with investigative themes or content | |
| Best Promotional Film | Recognizes films created for promotional purposes | |
| Best Scientific Film | Recognizes films focusing on scientific subjects | |
| Best Short Fiction Film | Recognizes excellence in short fiction filmmaking | |
| Best Film on Social Issues | Recognizes films addressing various social issues | |
| Discontinued Awards (Best Experimental Film, Best Filmstrip, Best Industrial Film, Best News Review, Best Newsreel Cameraman) | Awards that were previously given but have been discontinued | |
| Writing on Cinema | Golden Lotus Award (Swarna Kamal) | Recognizes excellence in writing about cinema |
| Best Book on Cinema | Awarded to the best book on cinema | |
| Best Film Critic | Recognizes excellence in film criticism |