The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has announced that for the 2025-26 academic session, admission to postgraduate courses will be based entirely on the Common University Entrance Test (CUET)-PG scores, with no weightage given to personal interviews. This move follows a series of contentious changes made after the Centre took over the power to appoint key functionaries at the institute.
The announcement was made in the admission brochure released last week, where the institution confirmed that 100% weightage would be given to CUET-PG scores. Along with this, the application fee has nearly doubled. For general category candidates, the fee has increased from ₹500 to ₹900, while for SC and ST candidates, the fee has gone up to ₹500.
These changes have sparked strong opposition from various student groups. Critics argue that the shift to making CUET-PG scores the sole determinant for admission could disproportionately affect candidates from SC, ST, and OBC backgrounds. They argue that the lack of personal interviews will hinder the fair selection of candidates, especially those with specialized knowledge or practical experience not captured by the CUET-PG exam.
Atul Ravindra, the former president of the TISS students’ union, voiced concerns, saying, “The CUET does not test specialized areas in specific subjects. TISS offers master’s programs in niche subjects, but CUET only offers papers in broad subject areas. The interview allowed the institute to assess the depth of a candidate’s understanding, something that will be lost now with the complete reliance on CUET.”
The move also marks a continuation of a series of policy changes following government intervaention. In 2023, the Ministry of Education gained the power to appoint chancellors and vice-chancellors in TISS, alongside other centrally funded institutions. Since then, there have been increasing efforts to centralize and standardize the admissions process, including the move to integrate TISS with the CUET system.
Ravindra also noted that while the government had initially wanted to discontinue interviews in 2024, protests had led to a temporary continuation of the practice. “Now, however, the institute is taking action against even the smallest protests. Students are now hesitant to voice their concerns, and the interviews have been dropped entirely,” he said.
Despite the opposition, the institute is moving forward with the new policy, which will fully rely on CUET-PG for the selection process in the coming academic year.
