The National Film Awards for the year 2018 will be announced after elections to the Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assembly for four States, being held simultaneously, are over.

The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry has deferred the announcement of the awards in view of the model code of conduct being in force across the country.

The National Film Awards were due for an announcement this month. Last year, the awards were announced on April 13.

“Since the model code of conduct is in force, which facilitates level playing field to all political parties and the candidates, and inter alia seeks to ensure that the power of media is not used in such a manner which affects the general conduct and level playing field during the election process, it has been decided to declare the awards after the election process is over and the MCC concludes,” the I&B ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

The selections for the National Film Awards are made by “an independent and impartial jury” consisting of eminent filmmakers and film personalities and declared in the month of April every year.

“However, this year elections to the 17th Lok Sabha and the Legislative Assemblies of four states are underway and the Awards also include one for the most film-friendly state,” the ministry said, citing reasons for postponing the announcement of the awards.