TISSNET 2026: CUET PG Counselling Open till June 16, Eligibility, Admission Process and Cutoff

TISSNET 2026 is the term commonly used for the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) national postgraduate admission process for the 2026-27 academic year. TISS — one of India’s most respected social sciences institutions, established in 1936 in Mumbai — has discontinued its standalone TISSNET entrance test and now accepts CUET PG 2026 scores (conducted by NTA) for most MA and MSW programmes, and CAT 2025 scores for three management-focused programmes. The latest update is that the CUET PG online counselling and registration phase for TISS 2026 admissions has commenced, with TISS accepting applications from shortlisted candidates at admissions.tiss.ac.in till June 16, 2026.

• Registration (CUET PG Track): TISS 2026 online registration for CUET PG shortlisted candidates has opened on May 22, 2026, and is active till June 16, 2026, at admissions.tiss.ac.in. Candidates must complete this step without delay to be considered for admission.
• Merit List: The TISS 2026 CUET PG merit list is expected in June-July 2026. In 2025, the TISS CUET PG final merit list was released in the last week of June.
• CAT Track Status: For CAT-based programmes (MA HRM&LR, MA ODCL, MA MHA), Merit List 3 was released on May 12, 2026. Wait-listed candidates should check the official portal for updates on further rounds.
• Seat Confirmation: Candidates who receive admission offers are expected to pay the seat acceptance fee and complete document verification in June-July 2026 to secure their place before the 2026-27 academic session begins.

What is TISSNET 2026?

TISSNET stands for Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test. It was the national-level entrance exam that TISS conducted every year for admission to its postgraduate programmes. For the 2026-27 academic session, the term TISSNET 2026 is broadly used to refer to the TISS PG admission process, even though TISS has now discontinued the standalone TISSNET exam in favour of national-level tests.

TISS is one of India’s premier deemed universities for social sciences. It was established in 1936 and granted Deemed University status in 1964. It is widely recognised for its programmes in social work, public health, human resource management, development studies, education, and related fields. The institute has four campuses — Mumbai (main), Tuljapur, Hyderabad, and Guwahati — and offers more than 53 postgraduate programmes for the 2026-27 batch.

For TISSNET 2026 admissions, TISS accepts CUET PG 2026 scores (conducted by NTA) for most MA and MSW programmes. Three management-oriented programmes — MA in Human Resource Management and Labour Relations (HRM&LR), MA in Organisation Development, Change and Leadership (ODCL), and MA in Hospital Administration (MHA) — accept CAT 2025 scores instead.

Source: TISS Official Admissions Portal

TISSNET 2026: CUET PG Replaces Standalone Entrance Exam

The most important thing to know about TISSNET 2026 is that TISS no longer conducts its own entrance test. This is a major shift for all students planning to apply to TISS for the 2026-27 session. Your preparation and exam strategy must now align with either CUET PG or CAT — not TISSNET.

What Changed from Previous Years?

Before the 2025-26 admissions cycle, TISS conducted TISSNET every year, usually in January. It had 100 multiple-choice questions across three sections — English Proficiency (30 marks), Mathematical Skills and Logical Reasoning (30 marks), and General Awareness (40 marks) — and the total duration was 100 minutes. There was no negative marking.

From the 2025-26 cycle onwards, TISS has adopted CUET PG as the standard entrance route for all MA programmes except the three CAT-based ones. This change brings TISS in line with other central and deemed universities across India that participate in the NTA CUET framework.

Which Exam Do You Need to Appear For?

• If you want to join MA in HRM&LR, MA in ODCL, or MA in Hospital Administration — you need a valid CAT 2025 score
• If you want to join any other MA or MSW programme at TISS — you need a valid CUET PG 2026 score
• CUET PG 2026 was conducted on March 8, 2026 by NTA. Results were declared in April 2026
• CAT 2025 was conducted in November 2025. Results were declared in January 2026

TISS does not take responsibility for information provided by sources other than admissions.tiss.ac.in and its official helpline (022-25525252). Always verify details directly from the official TISS portal.

TISSNET 2026 Important Dates

The TISSNET 2026 admission process runs on two separate tracks — CUET PG and CAT. Here are all the key dates you need to know for both tracks.

CUET PG 2026 Track — Important Dates

CAT 2025 Track — Important Dates

Source: TISS Admission Calendar — Official Portal

Eligibility Criteria for TISS PG Admission 2026

The eligibility requirements for TISSNET 2026 admissions are broadly similar across programmes. You must check both the general eligibility and any programme-specific conditions before applying.

General Eligibility

• You must hold a Bachelor’s degree (Honours, Honours with Research, 3-year, or 4-year programme) from a recognized university
• Minimum aggregate marks: 50% for General, EWS, and OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) categories
• Minimum aggregate marks: 45% for SC, ST, and PwD categories
• Final-year undergraduate students can apply provisionally. Admission is confirmed only after they submit final results meeting the required percentage
• Age: There is no upper age limit for TISS PG programmes

Programme-Specific Eligibility for Key TISS Programmes

Some niche programmes at the Tuljapur, Hyderabad, and Guwahati campuses may have additional subject-background requirements. You should download and carefully read the official TISS PG Admission Brochure 2026-27 for complete programme-specific eligibility.

TISSNET 2026 Application Process

Since TISSNET has been discontinued, the TISS 2026 PG application process is different from previous years. There are two separate tracks depending on which programme you want to join. Here is a step-by-step breakdown for both.

Step-by-Step: CUET PG Track (Most MA / MSW Programmes)

1. Register for CUET PG at the NTA portal and select the subject paper relevant to your target TISS programme. CUET PG 2026 registration was open from December 14, 2025, to January 14, 2026.
2. Download your CUET PG admit card and appear for the exam. CUET PG 2026 was held on March 8, 2026, in CBT mode.
3. Check your CUET PG result, declared in April 2026 on the NTA portal. Note your scores for each section.
4. Register on the TISS portal at admissions.tiss.ac.in during the TISS registration window (May 22 – June 16, 2026). Use your CUET PG roll number and credentials to log in.
5. Select your preferred programmes and campuses during the TISS registration. You can apply to multiple programmes across multiple campuses.
6. Pay the TISS application processing fee online. Keep the payment confirmation for reference.
7. Wait for the TISS CUET PG merit list, expected in June–July 2026. If shortlisted, complete document verification and fee payment to confirm your seat.

Step-by-Step: CAT Track (HRM&LR, ODCL, MHA)

1. Appear for CAT 2025 (conducted in November 2025). TISS requires a minimum CAT percentile — 70 for General category — to be considered.
2. Apply to TISS at admissions.tiss.ac.in after CAT results. The TISS CAT shortlist was announced on February 13, 2026.
3. Appear for the Online Personal Interview (OPI) and, for MHA, the Extempore Reflection Test (ERT), as scheduled by TISS.
4. Check the merit lists. TISS released Merit List 1 on April 20, Merit List 2 on May 5, and Merit List 3 on May 12, 2026.
5. If offered admission, pay the programme fee to confirm your seat within the deadline given by TISS.

All TISS applications must be submitted only through the official TISS portal at admissions.tiss.ac.in. TISS does not recognise applications submitted through any third-party portal or agent.

TISS 2026 Selection Criteria and Weightage

The TISS 2026 selection process is transparent and depends entirely on the admission track. Here is exactly how the final merit list is calculated for each track.

CUET PG Track — Selection Criteria

For all MA and MSW programmes at TISS that use the CUET PG route, selection is based entirely on the CUET PG 2026 score. There are no interviews, group discussions, or aptitude tests for CUET PG candidates in the 2026 cycle.

CAT Track — Selection Criteria (HRM&LR and ODCL)

CAT Track — Selection Criteria (MA Hospital Administration)

Category-wise reservation applies to all TISS programmes as per Government of India norms. The final merit list is prepared separately for each category — General/EWS, OBC (Non-Creamy Layer), SC, ST, and PwD. Diversity weightage for gender and geographical background may also be factored in for certain programmes. Check the official brochure for programme-specific details.

TISS Programmes and Seat Intake 2026

TISS offers more than 53 postgraduate programmes across its four campuses for the 2026-27 batch. The programmes cover social work, development studies, public health, human resource management, education, media studies, and more. Here are some of the major programmes with approximate seat intake:

Major Programmes at TISS Mumbai (Main Campus)

TISS also offers programmes at its Tuljapur, Hyderabad, and Guwahati campuses. These campuses have a focused mandate — Tuljapur on rural development, Hyderabad on Dalit and tribal studies, and Guwahati on North East India development. Seat intake at these campuses typically ranges from 15 to 40 per programme, making them competitive for specific programme choices.

You must download the official TISS PG Admission Brochure 2026-27 from admissions.tiss.ac.in for the complete and final list of programmes, campus-wise seat intake, and reservation-wise breakdowns.

TISS Campuses 2026

TISS operates across four campuses spread across India. Each campus has a distinct focus area and caters to different social sciences disciplines. Here is a quick overview of all four campuses:

The Mumbai campus is the largest and most sought-after. It houses the widest range of programmes and is home to TISS’s flagship HRM, social work, and development studies courses. The Hyderabad and Guwahati campuses are especially relevant for students interested in Dalit, tribal, and regional development contexts.

When you register on the TISS portal, you can indicate campus preferences. Final campus allocation depends on your merit rank, category, and seat availability at each campus for your chosen programme.

Preparation Tips for TISS Admission 2026

If you are planning to apply for TISS PG admission in the next cycle (2027-28), here is how to prepare effectively. For students who have already appeared in CUET PG 2026 and are now in the counselling phase, focus on completing your registration at admissions.tiss.ac.in before June 16, 2026.

Tips for CUET PG Preparation (For Future TISS Applicants)

• Know your subject paper early: CUET PG is subject-specific. Identify which paper you need based on your target TISS programme and build your study plan around that paper’s syllabus
• Download the official CUET PG syllabus: NTA publishes the subject-wise syllabus on its official portal. The questions are based on UG-level topics in your subject
• Solve previous year CUET PG papers: Practice papers help you understand question formats, difficulty levels, and important topic clusters
• Manage time well: CUET PG gives you 105 minutes for 75 questions — roughly 84 seconds per question. Practice solving full papers in 90 minutes to build a buffer
• Avoid blind guessing: CUET PG deducts 1 mark for each wrong answer. Only attempt questions where you can eliminate at least 2 options with confidence
• Stay updated on social issues: For social science papers at CUET PG, awareness of current social problems, government schemes, and Indian polity gives you an edge in General Awareness-type questions

Tips for CAT Aspirants Targeting TISS HRM&LR, ODCL, or MHA

• TISS’s CAT cutoff of 70 percentile (General category) is lower than IIM cutoffs. This makes TISS a strong option if you score between 70 and 85 percentile in CAT
• Prepare for all three CAT sections — VARC, DILR, and QA — with equal seriousness. TISS has a sectional cutoff of 60 for General category, so you cannot afford to neglect any one section
• Prepare for the Online Personal Interview (OPI) by reading about current topics in HR, labour policy, management, public health, and Indian social issues
• For MHA applicants, also prepare for the Extempore Reflection Test (ERT) — a short, spontaneous speech on a given topic. Practice speaking clearly on unfamiliar topics in under 2 minutes
• Strong knowledge of your graduation subject and clarity about your reasons for choosing TISS over other management institutes helps in the OPI

Recommended Resources for TISS Preparation

• Official CUET PG information bulletin (NTA portal)
• TISS PG Admission Brochure 2026-27 (admissions.tiss.ac.in)
• Standard Social Work textbooks for the Social Work CUET PG paper
• Indian Polity by M. Laxmikanth (General Awareness base)
• Indian Economy by Ramesh Singh (for development studies and policy awareness)
• The Hindu or Indian Express — daily reading for current affairs and social issues
• TISS previous year question papers and sample papers (available through TISS alumni networks)