StudyDesk
The most recent edition (2025–26): for dental students
The latest edition we could confirm, for the academic year 2025–26, was aimed at dental students across India:
- Who: Indian nationals enrolled in a Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) course in any year, or a Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) course, at a recognised institution.
- Award: a one-time scholarship of ₹75,000.
- Marks: BDS applicants must have passed Class 12 with at least 65% marks; students in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of BDS must additionally have scored at least 60% in their last semester. MDS applicants must have completed BDS with an overall score above 60%.
- Income: annual family income below ₹8 lakh.
- Preference is given to applicants from Maharashtra, Goa, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.
- Children of employees of Colgate-Palmolive (India) Limited and of Buddy4Study are not eligible.
The application deadline for that edition is reported as 9 November 2025 in the original listings and 5 December 2025 in Buddy4Study's own article — most likely an initial last date followed by an extension. Either way, the 2025–26 round is closed.
The Foundational programme (earlier editions)
Before the dental-focused edition, the programme ran for several years as the Keep India Smiling Foundational Scholarship Programme, with multiple tracks. The structure was:
- Class 11 students (must have passed Class 10) — reported amounts conflict between sources: ₹10,000 per year in one, ₹20,000 per year in another, for two years.
- 3-year graduation and diploma courses (Class 12 pass) — ₹30,000 per year for three years.
- BDS and engineering courses — ₹30,000 per year for four years.
- 1-year vocational courses (Class 12 pass) — ₹20,000 for the year.
- Sportspersons who have represented their state or country at the state, national or international level — ₹75,000 per year for three years.
- Individuals helping others — a grant category of ₹75,000 per year for two years, aimed at people running community initiatives.
Eligibility across those foundational tracks was merit-cum-means based, with family income limits applied — older listings show a limit of ₹5 lakh per annum for the foundational programme — and the money was paid directly to the beneficiary's bank account as a grant, not a loan: nothing needs to be repaid.
What about 2026–27?
Honest answer: as of this check (20 October 2026), no 2026–27 edition of the Keep India Smiling Scholarship had been announced in the sources we checked. Given the programme's own history — editions in 2025–26 and earlier — a future edition is plausible, but its categories, amounts and deadline cannot responsibly be printed until Colgate or Buddy4Study publish them. Students interested in the scholarship should monitor the Buddy4Study scholarship listings and the Colgate India foundation page, and treat any third-party page that prints exact 2026–27 dates before an announcement as unreliable.
How to apply (when an edition is open)
- Go to the Buddy4Study portal and register or log in.
- Open the Keep India Smiling Scholarship listing for the current edition and read that edition's rules — they govern, not last year's.
- Click "Apply Now", and fill in personal, academic, income and bank details.
- Upload the required documents (below).
- Preview and submit before the edition's deadline. Shortlisted applicants may be contacted for confirmation or an interview before the scholarship is sanctioned and credited to the bank account.
Queries for recent editions were handled at [email protected] and on 011-43092248 (Ext: 125).
Documents you will need
- Photo identity proof (Aadhaar card)
- Passport-size photograph
- Income proof — Form 16A, income certificate, BPL certificate or salary slip
- Proof of admission — college ID card or bona fide certificate
- Current academic year fee receipt
- Mark sheets or grade cards of the preceding class/year
- Bank account details — cancelled cheque or passbook copy
- Disability certificate, if applicable
Common mistakes
The single biggest error with this scholarship is researching the wrong edition: a Class 11 student preparing documents for the foundational track in a year when the open edition is the dental one will waste the whole cycle. Always open the current edition's listing first and work from its rules. Second, check the income ceiling for the specific track — the BDS/MDS edition allows up to ₹8 lakh, while older foundational listings used ₹5 lakh. Third, employees' children of the sponsor and the portal are excluded, so disclose relationships honestly rather than risk removal at verification. And as with every CSR scholarship on Buddy4Study, applying is free; anyone charging a fee to "process" your application is not part of the programme.
Sources & verification
Checked against Colgate-Palmolive India / primary published information on 6 September 2026.
Frequently asked questions
Has the Colgate Keep India Smiling Scholarship 2026-27 been announced?
No. As of the check on 20 October 2026, no 2026-27 edition had been announced in the sources checked; the most recent confirmed edition is 2025-26.
What was the most recent confirmed edition for?
The 2025-26 edition was aimed at Indian nationals enrolled in a BDS course in any year, or an MDS course, at a recognised institution, with a one-time scholarship of ₹75,000.
What were the marks and income rules for the 2025-26 dental edition?
BDS applicants needed at least 65% in Class 12, with students in the 2nd, 3rd or 4th year also needing at least 60% in their last semester; MDS applicants needed BDS completed with an overall score above 60%. Annual family income had to be below ₹8 lakh.
How do I apply when an edition is open?
Go to the Buddy4Study portal, register or log in, open the Keep India Smiling Scholarship listing for the current edition, click "Apply Now", fill in personal, academic, income and bank details, upload the required documents, and submit before that edition's deadline.
Which documents are listed as required?
Photo identity proof (Aadhaar card), a passport-size photograph, income proof, proof of admission, the current academic year fee receipt, mark sheets or grade cards of the preceding class or year, bank account details, and a disability certificate if applicable.
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