TISS Students Protest Removal Of Interview Process, Administration Defends Move As Necessary Reform

Mumbai: Several student organisations at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, have strongly opposed the institute’s decision to eliminate the interview process from postgraduate admissions for the 2025–26 academic year, arguing that the move compromises inclusivity and disadvantages students from diverse backgrounds.

In a joint statement, student groups, including the Adivasi Students' Forum, Ambedkarite Students’ Association, Fraternity, Muslim Students’ Forum, Northeast Students’ Forum, and Progressive Students’ Forum, criticised the administration for failing to provide clarity on the admission process and accused it of prioritising a centralised, coaching-driven system that they claim excludes many meritorious students.

The students expressed concern over the absence of any mention of the Online Assessment process in the admission timeline published on the TISS website, raising fears that the interview component, which has historically been a crucial part of the selection process, may be removed entirely. They also pointed out that the admission brochure for the Common University Entrance Test for Postgraduate Programmes (CUET-PG) has not yet been released, adding to the uncertainty. The groups alleged that the administration’s inefficiency in communicating the admission process had created unnecessary anxiety among aspirants and the larger student community.

This controversy follows the institute’s decision last year to implement CUET-PG as the primary entrance test, replacing the long-standing TISS-NET examination. Student organisations have opposed the transition to CUET, arguing that the centralised examination system encourages commercialisation of education by creating greater dependence on private coaching centres.

According to them, CUET favours students who can afford expensive coaching, thereby restricting opportunities for those from marginalised communities who may not have access to such resources. The groups claimed that CUET has already led to a homogenisation of the student body, making it difficult for those without additional financial support to compete on an equal footing.

They further alleged that the lack of transparency in last year’s admission process—where final scorecards were not declared, cut-offs were not announced, and students were not informed of the categories under which they were admitted—has raised serious concerns about the fairness of the system.

Despite repeated appeals to the administration, student representatives claim that their concerns have not been addressed. A delegation from the TISS Students’ Union and other student organisations had earlier met with the then Pro-Vice Chancellor, Professor Bino Paul, to raise issues regarding CUET’s implementation and the reduced weightage given to interviews.

They argue that the interview process has always played a crucial role in ensuring that students from varied social backgrounds, including those from vernacular mediums and those who do not excel in objective test formats, have an equal opportunity to secure admission. Without the interview, they believe that the admissions process will become less inclusive and further alienate students who rely on subjective assessments to demonstrate their potential.

The students argue that the changing demographic of the campus since the implementation of CUET is already a reflection of the exclusionary nature of the system and warn that removing interviews will only deepen this divide.

However, a senior TISS official defended the administration’s decision, stating that the move was approved by a high-level committee last year and aligns with the admission process followed by other leading universities.

“This is a decision taken last year, after we got an approval for the same from a high-level committee. Universities like Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, and every top university admit students based on the CUET score. The interview process, which delays the admission process for around two months, sees meritorious and bright students stay away from TISS. Extra cost is also involved,” the official said.

Responding to criticism from student organisations, the official further questioned their approach in addressing the issue. “If they had a problem with the mandate, the student groups should have contacted the institute directly. There is a tendency to criticise everything among them. They did not use the grievance portal either. For admission-related issues, we have formed ‘TISS Care’, where they could have called.”

Despite the administration’s justification, the student organisations remain firm in their demand that the interview process be retained in the admissions cycle. They have urged the institute to immediately clarify its stance on the matter, release the pending admission brochure, and ensure transparency in the entire selection process.