Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), established in 1936 under Tata Trusts’ stewardship, is undergoing significant transformation. The institution, renowned for its academic excellence in social sciences, is set to lose financial backing from Tata Trusts due to recent regulatory amendments and governance restructuring.
Earlier this year, TISS was brought under the Union Education Ministry’s purview, resulting in Tata Trusts’ representation being reduced to a single member in TISS’s society with no presence in its executive council. These changes were mandated by stringent University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, which apply to universities receiving over 50% of their funding from the Central Government.
As a consequence, contracts for 115 staff members—comprising 55 teaching and 60 non-teaching positions—directly funded by Tata Trusts have been terminated. Despite Tata Trusts’ commitment to disburse a Rs 5 crore balance grant upon receiving a charity certificate from TISS, the institute has yet to furnish this document, causing uncertainty among affected staff regarding their future job security.
TISS recently withdrew mass termination notices following Tata Trusts’ assurance of the Rs 5 crore grant. However, many staff members, integral to TISS’s academic and administrative operations, seek absorption into vacant UGC-funded positions to sustain institutional continuity.
Moving forward, TISS administration is actively engaging with Tata Trusts to explore sustainable solutions that align with regulatory mandates and operational imperatives. Affected faculty members plan to engage directly with institutional leadership and governmental stakeholders to advocate for equitable and enduring resolutions.
This transition underscores the complex challenges faced by educational institutions reliant on philanthropic support amidst evolving regulatory landscapes. As TISS navigates this period of change, stakeholders anticipate constructive dialogue and collaborative efforts to uphold its legacy of excellence in social sciences education.
