Colgate Keep India Smiling Scholarship 2025-26: Opportunity for Dental Students in India | INR 75,000 Grant
- Omran Aburayya
- Oct 7
- 4 min read
If you are a BDS or MDS student in India striving to pursue your studies despite financial constraints, the Colgate Keep India Smiling Scholarship 2025-26 offers a chance to get one-time financial support. Applications are now open, and this program by Colgate-Palmolive (India) in partnership with Buddy4Study is designed to uplift meritorious yet underprivileged students enrolled in dental programs.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of what the scholarship offers, who is eligible, and how to apply.
🎓 Scholarship Summary
Name of Program: Colgate Keep India Smiling Scholarship 2025-26
Location: India (Pan-India, preference to certain states)
Provider: Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited in collaboration with Buddy4Study and Shikshadaan foundation
Study Level: Undergraduate (BDS) or Postgraduate (MDS)
Target Group: Indian nationals who are financially needy and academically meritorious students enrolled in BDS / MDS programs
Fields of Study: Dentistry (BDS / MDS)
Award Value & Coverage: One-time grant of INR 75,000 for selected students
Award Duration: One-time support (i.e., not renewable)
Application Deadline: 09 November 2025
Start Date / Disbursement: After selection (exact disbursement timeline decided by Colgate / Buddy4Study)
Eligible To:
Students in any year of BDS or currently enrolled in MDS courses
Indian nationals only
Students whose annual family income is below INR 8 lakh
Students enrolled in recognised government or private dental colleges/institutes
Preference will be given to applicants from Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh
Exclusion: Children of employees of Buddy4Study or Colgate India are not eligible
🦷 Scholarship Overview
This scholarship is part of the Keep India Smiling Foundation Scholarship program by Colgate in India, which aims not only to provide financial assistance but also mentorship, career guidance, and capacity building for selected students.
The scholarship is rolled out in collaboration with Buddy4Study as the implementation partner.
One component of the mission is to support “deserving and meritorious” individuals who may lack sufficient resources.
In addition to the monetary grant, beneficiaries may also receive mentorship, career guidance, and skill development support (e.g. soft skills, communication, planning).
Over the years, Colgate reports supporting over 7,000 students across its Keep India Smiling programs (~1,000 scholars annually) with about 50% being dental students and a significant share being women.
The program also aligns with Colgate’s broader social mission (oral health, inclusion, digital literacy, women empowerment) in India.
Because this is a one-time grant rather than a recurring scholarship, recipients should plan how to allocate funds carefully (tuition, books, equipment, etc.).
💲 Benefits
Financial Aid: One-time award of INR 75,000 to support the cost of education (tuition, books, materials, etc.) for BDS / MDS students.
Mentorship & Guidance: Selected scholars may get mentorship, career counseling, guidance in soft skills, and help in planning their professional path.
Recognition & Networking: Being a Colgate scholar adds prestige and may open doors for networking with professionals, alumni, or industry / academia contacts.
Transparency & Support: The partnership with Buddy4Study aims to ensure process transparency, last-mile reach, and reliable disbursement.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
To apply for the Colgate Keep India Smiling Scholarship 2025-26, you must satisfy the following conditions:
Nationality: Indian nationals only.
Income Limit: Annual family income (from all sources) must be less than INR 8,00,000.
Enrollment: You must be enrolled in a recognized dental college/institute (government or private) in India.
Exclusion: Children of Buddy4Study or Colgate India employees are not eligible.
Academic Profile / Previous Qualifications:
Class 12 (Board exams): Must have passed with at least 65% marks.
For BDS students (2nd, 3rd, 4th year): In your last semester or term, you should have secured minimum 60%.
For MDS applicants: In addition to the above, your overall BDS performance must be above 60%.
Preference / State Priority: Preference is given to applicants hailing from Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh.
Application Procedure
Application Steps
Registration / Login: Go to Buddy4Study, register if you don’t already have an account, or log in using your existing credentials.
Navigate to Scholarship Page: Go to the “Colgate Keep India Smiling Scholarship 2025-26” page.
Start Application: Click “Start Application” / “Apply Now” for the relevant category (BDS or MDS).
Fill Application Form: Provide personal, academic, bank, and income details as requested.
Upload Documents (see list below).
Agree to Terms & Conditions and preview your filled form.
Submit the form.
After submission, the selection process (shortlisting, document verification, possible interview) will take place.
🗂️ Required Documents
You’ll typically need to upload / submit:
Photo identity proof (e.g. Aadhaar card)
Passport-size photograph
Income proof (e.g. income certificate, Form 16A, BPL certificate, salary slips)
Proof of admission / enrollment (college ID card, bonafide certificate)
Receipt of current academic year’s fee
Bank account details (cancelled cheque, passbook copy)
Marksheets / grade cards for class 12, and if applicable, previous semesters
Disability certificate (if applicable)
Any other supporting documents requested (such as proof of prior semester marks)
Some older sources mention “sports certificate / community helper proof” in context of broader Colgate scholarships, but for BDS / MDS category, the above core documents are essential.
ℹ️ Tips & Additional Information
Be prompt: Since the deadline is 09 November 2025, make sure to apply well before the closing date.
Check state preference: While applicants from all over India can apply, those from Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh may have higher chances (due to preference).
Document clarity: Ensure your uploaded documents are clear, legible, and valid.
Monitoring announcements: Occasionally, the provider may publish updates, changes, or clarifications — check Buddy4Study or Colgate’s official site regularly.
Mentorship aspect: Even if you win the grant, engage proactively with any mentorship or guidance components offered. That can maximize the long-term value of the scholarship.
Budget wisely: Since it’s a one-time support, plan expenses (tuition, books, equipment) carefully to get maximum benefit.
Keep backup: Maintain extra digital copies of your documents, just in case any re-submission or verification is needed.
