TISSNET 2027: CAT 2026 Registration Closes Sept 22, CUET PG 2027, Eligibility and Cutoff

TISSNET 2027 — the Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test — is no longer conducted as a standalone exam. TISS discontinued TISSNET from the 2024-25 admission cycle and now accepts CAT 2026 scores (for MA HRM & LR and MA ODCL programs) and CUET PG 2027 scores (for all other MA programs) for admission to its postgraduate programmes across four campuses. The 2027-28 TISS admission cycle is underway, and the most urgent deadline right now is the CAT 2026 registration window, which closes on September 22, 2026 — only three days from today.

• CAT 2026 Registration Closes: September 22, 2026 — only 3 days left. Candidates targeting MA HRM & LR or MA ODCL at TISS must register at iimcat.ac.in before 5:00 PM. In 2025, CAT registration closed on September 15, so this year’s window runs a week longer. Do not miss this deadline — the next CAT cycle will be in 2027.
• CAT 2026 Exam: November 29, 2026, in three sessions across around 170 cities in India. IIM Indore is conducting CAT 2026. TISS sets a minimum of 70 percentile (General category) in CAT for HRM & LR shortlisting; competitive final admits often require the high 90s.
• CUET PG 2027 Registration: Expected in the second week of December 2026. In 2026, the CUET PG registration window ran from December 14, 2025, to January 14, 2026 — about 30 days. Candidates for all other TISS programs (50+ MA courses) must register through NTA at exams.nta.nic.in/CUET-PG/.
• CUET PG 2027 Exam: Expected March 1–25, 2027, in online CBT mode across multiple cities and shifts. NTA has announced tentative dates for CUET PG 2027. TISS accepts these scores for admission to programs including MA Social Work, MA Development Studies, MA Applied Psychology, MA Media and Cultural Studies, and more.

What is TISSNET 2027?

TISSNET stands for Tata Institute of Social Sciences National Entrance Test. It was a national-level entrance exam conducted by TISS, Mumbai, for admission to its postgraduate programmes spanning social science, management, public health, education, and related disciplines. The exam was held annually in online (CBT) mode, usually in January or February, with 100 multiple-choice questions over 100 minutes.

TISS is a deemed-to-be university established in 1936 and ranks among India’s most reputed institutions for social science research and higher education. It operates four campuses — Mumbai (the main campus), Tuljapur, Guwahati, and Hyderabad — and offers more than 50 postgraduate (MA) programmes. Every year, thousands of candidates compete for a limited number of seats across these campuses.

The term "TISSNET 2027" now broadly refers to the TISS PG admission process for the 2027-28 academic year. TISSNET as a standalone exam was discontinued after January 2023. For the 2027-28 cycle, you need to appear for CAT 2026 if you are targeting the HRM & LR or ODCL programs, or CUET PG 2027 if you are targeting any other MA program at TISS.

TISSNET Discontinued: What Changed for 2027?

TISS announced the discontinuation of TISSNET in late 2023. The last TISSNET exam was held in January 2023, for admission to the 2023-24 academic year. Starting from the 2024-25 cycle, TISS replaced TISSNET with two national-level tests — CAT and CUET PG. This decision brought TISS in line with the national testing framework and eliminated the need for a separate exam.

This was a significant shift for candidates. Earlier, you only needed to prepare for one shorter, less complex exam (TISSNET: 100 questions, 100 minutes, no negative marking). Now, depending on your program choice, you must prepare for either CAT (a 120-minute, three-section exam tested across VARC, DILR, and QA) or CUET PG (a subject-specific exam by NTA).

Why Did TISS Discontinue TISSNET?

TISS aligned itself with the national entrance testing framework to standardise admissions, reduce the administrative cost of running a separate exam, and bring TISS PG admissions in line with how other top universities in India admit students. CUET PG, conducted by NTA, is now the common gateway for postgraduate admissions at most central universities. This change also means TISS competes for students in the same pool as other top institutions using CAT scores.

There is no TISSNET 2027 exam or registration form. If you are planning to apply for TISS 2027-28, you must register for CAT 2026 (deadline: September 22, 2026) or CUET PG 2027 (expected December 2026), depending on your chosen program.

New TISS Admission Process 2027-28 via CAT and CUET PG

TISS follows a dual-track admission route for its postgraduate programs. Your entry route depends entirely on which program you want to join. Here is how the two tracks work for the 2027-28 cycle.

Track 1: CAT 2026 (for MA HRM & LR and MA ODCL)

If you want to join the MA Human Resource Management & Labour Relations (HRM & LR) or the MA Organisation Development, Change, and Leadership (ODCL) program at TISS Mumbai, you must appear for CAT 2026. These are the two flagship management programs at TISS and are the most competitive.

• CAT 2026 is conducted by IIM Indore on November 29, 2026 across three sessions
• You must register at iimcat.ac.in — the last date is September 22, 2026, at 5:00 PM
• The application fee is Rs. 2,400 for General/EWS/OBC and Rs. 1,200 for SC/ST/PwD candidates
• After CAT results (expected December 2026), TISS releases a shortlist based on your CAT percentile
• Shortlisted candidates appear for an Online Assessment (TISS-PAT) and then an Online Personal Interview (OPI)
• Final merit is based on CAT score weighted at 97% (HRM & LR) or 95% (ODCL), plus 3–5 diversity marks for female and transgender candidates

Track 2: CUET PG 2027 (for All Other MA Programs)

For all other MA programs at TISS — including MA Social Work, MA Development Studies, MA Applied Psychology, MA Media and Cultural Studies, MA Public Health, MA Education, and more — you must appear for CUET PG 2027.

• CUET PG 2027 is conducted by NTA and is expected from March 1–25, 2027 in CBT mode
• Registration for CUET PG 2027 is expected to open in the second week of December 2026
• TISS releases its own separate application form (expected February–March 2027) where you submit your CUET PG score
• Shortlisting is based purely on CUET PG score — 100% weightage for most programs
• Final merit list is released on the TISS admissions portal at admissions.tiss.ac.in

Source: TISS Official Admissions Portal

Important Dates for TISS Admissions 2027

The 2027-28 TISS admission cycle uses two separate timelines — one for CAT 2026 (management programs) and one for CUET PG 2027 (all other programs). Dates marked "Expected" are based on the previous year’s pattern and will be confirmed when officially announced.

CAT 2026 Key Dates (HRM & LR and ODCL Programs)

CUET PG 2027 Key Dates (All Other TISS Programs)

Eligibility Criteria for TISS 2027-28

The eligibility criteria for TISS postgraduate admissions are set by TISS itself — not by CAT or CUET PG authorities. You must meet these criteria to fill the TISS application form after appearing for your entrance exam.

General Eligibility

• You must hold a Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from a recognised university
• The degree must be through a minimum of 15 years of formal education (10 + 2 + 3 or equivalent)
• Most programs do not set a minimum percentage in graduation, but strong academic records improve your chances in shortlisting
• Final-year undergraduate students can also apply, but must submit their results before the TISS deadline

Program-Specific Eligibility

Reservation Criteria

TISS follows the Government of India reservation policy. Seats are reserved as follows:

• SC: 15% of seats across most campuses
• ST: 7.5% of seats across most campuses
• OBC (Non-Creamy Layer): 27% of seats
• EWS (Economically Weaker Section): 10% of seats
• Guwahati Campus (Special): Around 66% of seats are reserved for candidates from the eight North Eastern states; 34% are open to candidates from the rest of India
• PwD: 5% horizontal reservation across categories

How to Apply for TISS 2027-28

Applying for TISS 2027-28 is a multi-step process that involves two separate registrations — first for the entrance exam, and then for TISS itself. Here is the complete process:

Step-by-Step Application Process

1. Step 1 — Register for the Entrance Exam: Based on your target program, register for CAT 2026 at iimcat.ac.in (last date: September 22, 2026) or CUET PG 2027 at exams.nta.nic.in/CUET-PG/ (expected December 2026). These are separate registrations with separate fees.
2. Step 2 — Appear for the Exam: Appear for CAT 2026 on November 29, 2026, or CUET PG 2027 in March 2027. Download your scorecard from the respective authority after results are declared.
3. Step 3 — Fill the TISS Application Form: TISS releases its own separate application form at appln.tiss.ac.in, expected February–March 2027. Register on the portal, fill personal and academic details, select your program preferences, and submit your CAT or CUET PG score.
4. Step 4 — Pay the TISS Application Fee: The fee for the 2027-28 cycle is yet to be announced. Pay online through the TISS portal. The fee is typically non-refundable.
5. Step 5 — Check the TISS Shortlist: TISS releases its shortlist at admissions.tiss.ac.in. For CAT route programs, shortlisted candidates must appear for TISS-PAT and an Online Personal Interview. For CUET PG programs, selection is based on the merit list.
6. Step 6 — Accept Offer and Confirm Seat: If you receive an admission offer, accept it on the portal within the given deadline and pay the first semester fee to confirm your seat. Missing this window cancels the offer automatically.

Appearing for CAT 2026 or CUET PG 2027 does not automatically register you with TISS. You must fill the TISS application form separately when it opens in early 2027.

Documents Required

• Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and pass certificates
• Graduation degree certificate or provisional certificate (for final-year students)
• All-semester graduation mark sheets
• CAT 2026 or CUET PG 2027 scorecard
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS) if applicable — must be from a competent authority
• PwD certificate if applicable
• Recent passport-size photograph in the specified format
• Government-issued photo ID proof

TISSNET Syllabus (Historical Reference)

The TISSNET syllabus was divided across three sections. Since TISSNET is now discontinued, use this as background context for understanding what TISS values in candidates. For the 2027-28 cycle, focus your preparation on the CAT 2026 or CUET PG 2027 syllabus instead.

English Proficiency

• Reading Comprehension — passages from social science, current affairs, and literature, with questions on main idea, tone, inference, and vocabulary
• Verbal Ability — sentence correction, fill in the blanks, error spotting, parts of speech
• Vocabulary — synonyms, antonyms, word usage in context, idioms
• Parajumbles — rearranging jumbled sentences into a coherent paragraph

Mathematical Skills and Logical Reasoning

• Data Interpretation — bar graphs, pie charts, tables, line graphs (around 9 questions based on past pattern)
• Quantitative Aptitude — percentages, ratio and proportion, profit and loss, simple and compound interest, time and work, speed and distance, number systems
• Logical Reasoning — series completion, blood relations, coding-decoding, syllogisms, seating arrangements, direction sense

General Awareness

• Static General Knowledge — Indian constitution, geography, history, notable personalities
• Social Awareness — government welfare schemes, development indicators, NGOs, poverty and inequality data
• Current Affairs — national and international news, summits, awards, sports events, books and authors
• Indian Economy — poverty ratios, unemployment data, GDP concepts, Five Year Plans (historical)
• International Organisations — UN agencies, World Bank, WHO, ILO, and their recent mandates

What to Prepare for the 2027 Cycle

For CAT 2026, prepare across three sections: Verbal Ability & Reading Comprehension (VARC), Data Interpretation & Logical Reasoning (DILR), and Quantitative Aptitude (QA). CAT has 66 questions across 120 minutes, with sectional time limits of 40 minutes per section.

For CUET PG 2027, your preparation depends on your domain subject. NTA tests candidates on the specific subject code they choose for CUET PG — for most TISS social science programs, this aligns with the candidate’s undergraduate discipline. Check the official NTA CUET PG 2027 syllabus for your specific subject code once the notification is released (expected December 2026).

Courses and Programs at TISS 2027-28

TISS offers more than 50 postgraduate programs across its four campuses. These are 2-year, full-time MA programs. Each program has its own seat intake, admission route, and eligibility. Below is an overview of the key programs.

Programs via CAT 2026 (Management Programs — Mumbai Campus Only)

Key Programs via CUET PG 2027

TISS offers 50+ programs in total across all campuses. The complete list with seat intake will be published in the official TISS 2027-28 admission brochure, expected in early 2027. The annual fees shown are based on 2026-27 data and may be revised.

Seat Intake

Each TISS program has a specific seat intake, typically ranging from 20 to 70 seats. For example, MA Social Work (Public Health) at Mumbai has 20 seats. The full seat matrix is published in the official admission brochure each year, and the 2027-28 brochure is expected when TISS opens its application portal in early 2027.

TISS Campuses

TISS operates across four campuses in India. Each campus has a distinct academic focus and its own set of programs. When you apply to TISS, you apply to a specific program at a specific campus.

The Mumbai campus is the largest and most competitive. All CAT-route programs (HRM & LR and ODCL) are at Mumbai only. If you are from a North Eastern state and applying through CUET PG, the Guwahati campus offers a significant advantage due to the 66% seat reservation for NE candidates.

Source: TISS Admissions Portal

Preparation Tips for TISS 2027 Admission

Since TISSNET no longer exists, your entire preparation strategy depends on which route you are taking — CAT 2026 or CUET PG 2027. Here is how to plan effectively for the 2027-28 cycle, starting today.

If You Are Preparing for CAT 2026 (HRM & LR or ODCL)

• Urgency — Register now: The CAT 2026 registration closes on September 22, 2026 — three days from today. Register at iimcat.ac.in before this window closes.
• Focus on VARC: Verbal Ability and Reading Comprehension carry heavy weight in CAT. Read quality long-form articles and editorials daily. Practice RC passage sets regularly.
• DILR requires practice sets: Data Interpretation and Logical Reasoning rewards practice over theory. Work through caselets and data sets, focusing on speed and accuracy.
• QA fundamentals: For TISS’s 70 percentile minimum, you need solid arithmetic — percentages, profit and loss, ratios, and averages. For high-90s scores, go deeper into algebra and number theory.
• Mock tests: Take full-length CAT mocks regularly. With the exam on November 29, aim for at least 15–20 mocks before exam day. Analyse mistakes after each mock — improvement comes from error analysis, not just volume of practice.
• Prepare for TISS-PAT and OPI: If shortlisted after CAT results (expected December 2026), you will face TISS-PAT and an Online Personal Interview. Start building awareness of HR and labour issues, government policy, and social sector trends now.

If You Are Preparing for CUET PG 2027 (All Other Programs)

• Know your subject paper: CUET PG 2027 tests you on your undergraduate domain subject. Identify the correct NTA subject code for your TISS target program once the official syllabus is released (expected December 2026).
• Undergraduate textbooks: For social science programs at TISS, standard undergraduate textbooks from sociology, economics, psychology, or public administration form the core of CUET PG preparation.
• Social awareness: TISS programs attract socially aware candidates. Stay updated on government welfare schemes, development indices (HDI, GII), and major social movements.
• Practice previous CUET PG papers: NTA has released papers from the 2023, 2024, and 2025 cycles. Practice these to understand the question format and difficulty level.
• Track the NTA website: CUET PG 2027 registration is expected in December 2026. Monitor nta.ac.in and exams.nta.nic.in/CUET-PG/ so you do not miss the window.

General Tips for All Candidates

• Keep all documents ready — graduation mark sheets, category certificate (if applicable), and ID proof — before the TISS application form opens in 2027
• Check admissions.tiss.ac.in regularly for official updates on dates, shortlists, and merit lists
• If you are from a North Eastern state, weigh the Guwahati campus option seriously — the 66% seat reservation significantly improves your admission chances
• Do not pay attention to unofficial TISS cutoff predictions before the official merit list — they are often inaccurate and can create false expectations