In India, which of the following awards is declared annually to honour films produced in the previous calendar year across various categories of Indian cinema?

Introduction / Context:
India has several major national level awards recognising excellence in literature, cinema, bravery, and public service. For films, there is a specific system that honours movies produced in the previous calendar year across many categories such as Best Feature Film, Best Actor, Best Actress, and various technical awards. General knowledge examinations frequently ask which award is associated with Indian films for the previous year, and it is important not to confuse this with honours for literature, civilian service, or military gallantry.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question asks about an award declared yearly for films produced in India in the previous year.
• The options include Jnanpith Award, Bharat Ratna, National Film Award, and Param Vir Chakra.
• We assume that the question refers to the main government administered film awards in India.
• The focus is on the nature of the award, not on any single category or winner.

Concept / Approach:
The National Film Awards are India’s official film awards administered by the Directorate of Film Festivals on behalf of the Government of India. They are presented annually to honour films certified in the previous calendar year, covering a wide range of languages and categories. Jnanpith Award is for literature, Bharat Ratna is the highest civilian award for exceptional service, and Param Vir Chakra is the highest military gallantry award. By matching the keyword films with the correct award system, we can identify the National Film Award as the right choice. Understanding the domain of each award prevents confusion and guesswork.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the phrase films produced in India in the previous year. Step 2: Recall that the National Film Awards are presented annually to honour the best of Indian cinema, based on movies produced in the preceding year. Step 3: Recognise that Jnanpith Award is for outstanding contribution to Indian literature and is not specifically related to films. Step 4: Remember that Bharat Ratna is a broad civilian award for exceptional service of the highest order and does not function as a yearly film award. Step 5: Note that Param Vir Chakra is India’s highest wartime gallantry award and has no relation to film production. Step 6: Conclude that National Film Award is the only option that accurately matches the description in the question.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification is possible by checking government websites or standard reference books describing Indian awards. The National Film Awards are clearly explained as annual honours for cinema and list winners for each year based on films produced the previous year. By contrast, Jnanpith Award lists authors and works of literature, Bharat Ratna lists distinguished personalities from various fields, and Param Vir Chakra lists military personnel who have shown exceptional bravery in war. This clear separation of domains confirms that National Film Award is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jnanpith Award: This is India’s highest literary award, given for outstanding contributions to literature in Indian languages, and is unrelated to films.
Bharat Ratna: This is the highest civilian honour for exceptional service, given to personalities from many fields, not a dedicated film award for the previous year.
Param Vir Chakra: This is India’s highest military decoration for wartime bravery and has no connection with cinema or film production.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students confuse Jnanpith Award with film awards because both relate to creative work, but Jnanpith is strictly for literature. Others may simply pick Bharat Ratna because it is the highest civilian honour, without reading that the question is specifically about films produced in the previous year. To avoid such mistakes, always link the subject domain in the question to the correct award family and remember that the National Film Awards are the main government backed awards for Indian cinema.

Final Answer:
The award declared annually for films produced in India in the previous year is the National Film Award system.