TISS Recruitment 2026 - Apply Online for 21 Research Investigator, Research Assistant and More Posts

Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) Recruitment 2026 invites applications for 21 vacancies across Research Investigator, Research Assistant and allied research positions. TISS is a premier autonomous university conducting research and teaching in social sciences, public health, and development studies. This recruitment is for various ongoing research projects and centres across TISS campuses. Selected candidates will work on specific research projects under experienced faculty members. The positions are typically contractual/project-based appointments with potential for extension based on project duration and performance. Candidates with qualifications in social sciences, statistics, public health, and related disciplines are encouraged to apply.

Typical / Indicative dates based on TISS recruitment patterns

Typical / Indicative distribution across 21 posts

Educational Qualification

For Research Investigator:

• Master's degree in Social Work/Public Health/Statistics/Sociology/Psychology/Economics or related disciplines
• Minimum 55% marks or equivalent grade
• PhD preferred for senior positions
• Prior research experience of 1-2 years desirable

For Research Assistant:

• Bachelor's degree with minimum 50% marks in relevant discipline
• OR Master's degree for senior RA positions
• Computer proficiency (MS Office, SPSS/STATA preferred)
• Field experience in social research preferred

Age Limit

Typical / Indicative age criteria

Age Relaxation:

Age calculated as on closing date of application.

Nationality

• Candidate must be a Citizen of India
• OR a subject of Nepal/Bhutan
• OR a Tibetan refugee who came to India before January 1, 1962
• OR a person of Indian origin migrated from Pakistan, Burma, Sri Lanka, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zaire, Ethiopia or Vietnam with intention of permanent settlement

Steps to Apply Online

1. Visit the official TISS website at tiss.edu and navigate to the Careers/Recruitment section
2. Click on the notification link for "Recruitment 2026 - Research Positions"
3. Read the detailed advertisement carefully and check eligibility criteria
4. Click on "Apply Online" link to access the application portal
5. Register as a new user with valid email ID and mobile number (OTP verification required)
6. Login with generated credentials and fill the online application form with personal, educational and experience details
7. Upload scanned copies of photograph (50KB), signature (20KB), educational certificates, experience certificates (all in JPG/PDF format)
8. Pay the application fee through online mode (Net Banking/Debit Card/Credit Card/UPI)
9. Review the complete application form before final submission
10. Submit the application and take printout of the filled form with payment receipt for future reference
11. Note down the application registration number for tracking

Application Fee

Note: Fee once paid is non-refundable and non-transferable under any circumstances.

1. Shortlisting: Applications will be screened based on educational qualifications, experience, and relevance to the project requirements. Only shortlisted candidates will be called for further rounds.

1. Written Test/Skill Assessment: For certain positions, candidates may need to appear for a written test assessing domain knowledge, analytical ability, and research aptitude. Skill tests may include data analysis exercises or field survey simulations.

1. Personal Interview: Shortlisted candidates will be called for personal interview before a selection committee comprising project investigators and TISS faculty members. Interview assesses subject knowledge, research orientation, communication skills and project fit.

1. Presentation/Assignment: Some positions may require candidates to present a research proposal or complete a take-home assignment related to the project theme.

1. Document Verification: After selection, candidates must submit original documents for verification including educational certificates, experience letters, caste certificate, age proof, and identity proof.

1. Medical Fitness: Selected candidates may need to submit a medical fitness certificate from a registered medical practitioner.

1. Final Selection: Final merit list prepared based on combined performance in written test (if applicable) and interview. Selected candidates will receive offer letters with joining instructions.

Written Test Pattern (If Applicable)

Typical / Indicative pattern for Research positions

Interview Pattern

Negative Marking: Typically 0.25 marks deducted for each wrong answer in objective-type written tests. No negative marking in descriptive sections or interviews.

Research Methodology

• Types of research: Exploratory, descriptive, analytical, experimental
• Research design and sampling techniques
• Qualitative research methods: FGD, in-depth interviews, case studies
• Quantitative research methods: Survey design, questionnaire development
• Data collection methods and tools
• Ethics in social science research
• Report writing and documentation

Statistics and Data Analysis

• Descriptive statistics: Mean, median, mode, standard deviation
• Inferential statistics: Hypothesis testing, t-test, chi-square
• Correlation and regression analysis
• SPSS/STATA/R software basics
• Data cleaning and coding
• Graphical representation of data
• Interpretation of statistical results

Social Sciences (Domain-Specific)

For Social Work positions:

• Community development and social welfare
• Social problems: Poverty, inequality, gender issues
• NGO management and grassroots interventions
• Human rights and social justice
• Disaster management and rehabilitation

For Public Health positions:

• Public health concepts and principles
• Maternal and child health
• Nutrition and food security
• Epidemiology basics
• Health systems and policy
• WASH (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene)

For Development Studies:

• Rural and urban development
• Livelihood and employment
• Governance and policy
• Education and skill development
• Environmental sustainability

General Awareness

• Current national and international affairs
• Government schemes and programmes (NREGA, NRHM, SSA, etc.)
• Indian polity and governance
• Social development indicators
• UN Sustainable Development Goals
• Major social movements in India

Analytical Reasoning

• Logical reasoning and problem-solving
• Data interpretation (tables, graphs, charts)
• Critical thinking and analysis
• Situational judgment for field scenarios

Typical / Indicative salary structure for TISS contractual research positions

Additional Benefits:

• Medical insurance coverage for contractual staff (project-dependent)
• Leave encashment as per project policy
• Travel allowance for field visits
• Professional development opportunities through TISS workshops and seminars
• Access to TISS library and research facilities

Note: Salary structure varies by project funding, position level, and candidate qualifications. Some positions may offer consolidated pay packages without separate allowance breakup.

TISS research positions offer excellent learning opportunities and exposure to cutting-edge social science research under renowned faculty mentorship. Contractual staff can apply for regular faculty or research positions at TISS when advertised, with project experience being valued. High-performing research assistants often pursue higher studies (PhD) with faculty recommendations and may transition to permanent academic or research roles. Extension of contract depends on project duration and performance, with some researchers working on multiple sequential projects at TISS spanning several years.

For positions requiring written test or skill assessment, admit cards will be released 7-10 days before the examination date on the TISS recruitment portal. Candidates must login with their registration credentials to download the admit card, which contains exam centre details, reporting time, and important instructions. No separate communication will be sent by post. Candidates must bring a printed copy of the admit card along with valid photo ID proof (Aadhaar/Voter ID/Passport/Driving License) to the examination centre. Entry will not be permitted without admit card and ID proof.

Shortlist for interviews and final selection results will be published on the official TISS website under the Careers/Recruitment section. Candidates can check their status by entering registration number/email ID. Shortlisted candidates for interviews will receive email and SMS notifications with interview schedule and venue details. Final selection list will mention selected candidates' names/registration numbers along with position allocated. Selected candidates will subsequently receive offer letters via email with joining formalities. Results are typically declared within 2-3 weeks after completion of interviews. No separate intimation by post will be sent.

Typical / Indicative cutoff trends: For written tests (when conducted), General category candidates typically need to score 50-60% marks to qualify for interviews, while SC/ST candidates require 40-45% and OBC candidates need 45-50%. Interview cutoffs are generally 50-60% of maximum marks for final selection. Actual cutoffs vary significantly based on number of applicants, difficulty level, and specific project requirements. Positions requiring specialized skills (statistical analysis, specific language proficiency) may have different cutoff patterns. Project-based positions with niche requirements sometimes have lower competition and correspondingly lower cutoffs compared to general research positions.

North India: Delhi, Guwahati (TISS campus), Chandigarh, Lucknow, Jaipur

South India: Hyderabad (TISS campus), Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, Visakhapatnam

West India: Mumbai (TISS main campus), Pune, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Goa

East India: Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Patna, Ranchi

Northeast India: Guwahati (primary centre for NE region)

Note: Actual exam centres depend on position requirements and number of applications received from each region. TISS reserves the right to add/cancel centres based on administrative feasibility. Most interviews are conducted at TISS Mumbai or respective campus locations.