While this award comes with a Swarn Kamal (Golden Lotus), a cash prize of Rs. 10 lakhs and a shawl, it is given on the basis of recommendations of a Committee of eminent personalities set up by the Government.
In the past Manoj Kumar has been the recipient of the National Film Award for the film Upkaar and later in 1992, he was honoured with the Padma Shri by the government of India.