TISS Drops Interviews for PG Admissions 2025, Students Slam 100% CUET Weightage and Fee Hike

Key Highlights:

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has officially eliminated personal interviews from its postgraduate admissions process for the academic year 2025-26, allocating 100% weightage to CUET-PG scores. The move marks a significant shift from its long-standing tradition of holistic candidate evaluation and has ignited sharp criticism from student bodies and academic circles.

100% CUET Score Will Determine PG Admissions at TISS

As per the latest admission brochure released by the institution last week, all PG admissions will be exclusively based on CUET-PG 2025, the Common University Entrance Test conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

Until last year, 25% weightage was given to personal interviews, a stage designed to assess a candidate’s subject knowledge, motivation, and suitability for specialized master’s programmes.

Now, that aspect of the evaluation has been completely scrapped, sparking fears that the quality and diversity of student intake may be compromised.

Student Groups Protest Against the Removal of Interviews

Several student groups, particularly those representing marginalized communities, have voiced serious concern over the move. They argue that the removal of the interview process will disproportionately affect candidates from SC, ST, and OBC categories, many of whom may not perform as competitively on a standardized written test alone.

Former TISS Students’ Union president Atul Ravindra stated:

“There were checks and balances through interviews. CUET does not test specialized knowledge. Now, with 100% weightage to CUET, that is lost. This change will affect the quality and inclusivity of admissions.“

Rise in Application Fees Adds to Students’ Woes

Apart from the scrapping of interviews, the TISS Admission 2025 notification has also increased the application fee significantly:

• General category: ₹900 (up from ₹500 last year)
• SC/ST candidates: ₹500 (double the previous ₹250)

Students have criticized the move as insensitive and exclusionary, especially given the socio-economic backgrounds of many applicants to the social sciences institution.

Centre’s Influence on Deemed Universities Under Scrutiny

In 2023, the Ministry of Education approved regulatory changes allowing the central government to appoint chancellors and vice-chancellors at TISS and four other centrally funded deemed universities.

Since then, there has been a steady alignment with central policies, including making CUET-PG mandatory and phasing out institution-specific admission practices. Ravindra claims:

“The institute wanted to drop interviews even last year, but student protests halted the move. Now, disciplinary actions are being taken against even minor protests, and the decision has been pushed through.“

Why the Change Matters: Specialized vs Broad Testing

One of the biggest criticisms of the CUET model is its broad subject orientation, which doesn’t align with the specialized Master’s programmes offered by TISS.

“TISS programmes are tailored to niche areas under broader subjects. CUET does not test these nuances. Removing interviews takes away the last filter that could assess a candidate’s fit for specialized study,” Ravindra added.

This raises broader concerns about academic mismatch and dilution of standards, particularly in professional and field-based postgraduate programs.

What This Means for You

For prospective students, TISS Admission 2025 is now entirely dependent on CUET-PG scores. Candidates who were preparing for interview rounds will now need to redirect their focus toward mastering the written test format.

For student groups and educators, this change may be seen as a move toward standardization at the cost of academic depth and inclusivity.

How to Take Action

• Download the official TISS Admission Brochure 2025 from tiss.edu
• Register for CUET-PG 2025 through the NTA portal
• Join student-led webinars and forums discussing alternative preparation strategies
• Write to TISS administration or participate in open letters raising concerns constructively

Who Will Be Affected

• SC/ST/OBC aspirants who relied on interviews to balance CUET scores
• Candidates with specialized interests whose abilities may not be reflected in general entrance tests
• TISS alumni and faculty invested in preserving the institution’s academic autonomy and identity
• Other social sciences institutions potentially watching how this policy plays out before following suit

TISS Admission 2025 Policy Shift Sparks Debate on Access and Academic Standards

The TISS decision to drop interviews for PG admissions and give 100% weightage to CUET-PG 2025 has opened a debate on inclusivity, academic alignment, and institutional autonomy. With a steep rise in application fees and concerns about transparency in student evaluation, this policy shift is likely to remain at the center of discourse in higher education policy circles.

As the academic year approaches, all eyes will be on TISS and how this new model affects student diversity, selection quality, and institutional credibility.

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