TISS Guwahati Campus Assistant Professor Sociology Recruitment 2026 - Overview

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) has released a recruitment notification (Advertisement No. ADVT/ACAD/TISS-GC/SEPT/2026 dated 01 September 2026) inviting online applications from eligible candidates for one post of Assistant Professor in Sociology at the Centre for Undergraduate Studies, TISS Guwahati Off-Campus, on a contract basis. The selected candidate will be appointed for an initial term up to 31 March 2027, which may be extended based on individual performance and the requirements of the Institute. The last date for receipt of online applications is 16 September 2026. The interview is scheduled to be held offline at the TISS Guwahati Campus in the third week of September 2026.

About TISS and the Guwahati Campus

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences, established in 1936, is a Deemed to be University under Section 3 of the UGC Act 1956, and operates as a grant-in-aid institute under the Ministry of Education, Government of India. In the 2024 NAAC assessment, TISS was awarded Grade I status, placing it among India's top-tier universities. The institute runs four campuses at Mumbai (the main campus), Tuljapur (its rural campus), Guwahati, and Hyderabad, and currently offers five undergraduate programmes, fifty-two Masters' degree programmes, twenty-one Ph.D. programmes, and twenty-eight Bachelor of Vocational degree programmes across a range of socially relevant inter-disciplinary areas. Freedom and autonomy shape the positive work ethos of the Institute and support strong linkages between teaching, research, field action, and policy engagement.

The TISS Guwahati Campus, also referred to as the Guwahati Off-Campus, offers academic programmes in Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts, and Ph.D. The programmes place a strong emphasis on the humanistic aspects of the social sciences blended with the logical reasoning of the natural sciences, combining the faculties of imagination and creativity with rigorous and critical thinking. The Guwahati campus is uniquely positioned to engage with the concerns of Northeast India and its transnational neighbourhood, and the Centre for Undergraduate Studies anchors much of the campus's teaching of foundational social science courses.

Position Details

One post of Assistant Professor in Sociology is to be filled on a contract basis at the Centre for Undergraduate Studies of the TISS Guwahati Campus. The contract is initially till 31 March 2027, with the possibility of extension subject to the performance of the candidate and the Institute's continuing requirements. The selected candidate will be stationed at Guwahati and is required to join within 10 to 15 days of selection. The role involves teaching undergraduate courses, supervising student research, contributing to curriculum development, and participating in field-based work, research collaborations, and institutional service activities of the Centre and the Institute.

Remuneration

The selected candidate will be placed at the entry pay of Rs. 57,700 per month in the Academic Pay Level 10 of the 7th Central Pay Commission. The remuneration is fixed for the contract period and is paid in accordance with the Institute's rules applicable to contract faculty.

Essential Educational Qualifications

Candidates must satisfy one of the two eligibility pathways (A or B) outlined below.

Eligibility A:

• A Master's degree with at least 55% marks (or an equivalent grade in a point-scale wherever the grading system is followed) in Sociology from an Indian university, or an equivalent degree from an accredited foreign university.
• The candidate must have cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by the UGC or the CSIR, or a similar test accredited by the UGC such as SLET or SET. Ph.D. holders whose degree has been awarded in accordance with the UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of M.Phil./Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2009 or 2016 and their subsequent amendments are exempted from NET, SLET, or SET.

Ph.D. candidates who were registered for the doctoral programme prior to 11 July 2009 are governed by the provisions of the then existing ordinances, bye-laws, or regulations of the institution awarding the degree. Such candidates may be exempted from the NET/SLET/SET requirement subject to fulfilment of the following conditions:

1. The Ph.D. degree has been awarded in regular mode.
2. The Ph.D. thesis has been evaluated by at least two external examiners.
3. An open Ph.D. viva voce has been conducted.
4. The candidate has published at least two research papers from the Ph.D. work, with at least one in a refereed journal.
5. The candidate has presented at least two papers based on the Ph.D. work in conferences or seminars sponsored, funded, or supported by the UGC, ICSSR, CSIR, or any similar agency.

Compliance with these conditions is to be certified by the Registrar or the Dean (Academic Affairs) of the concerned university. NET, SLET, or SET is also not required for Master's programmes in disciplines for which these tests are not conducted by the UGC, CSIR, or similar test accredited by the UGC.

Eligibility B: The candidate holds a Ph.D. degree obtained from a foreign university or institution that is ranked among the top 500 in any of the following World University Rankings (at any time):

• Quacquarelli Symonds (QS)
• Times Higher Education (THE)
• Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) of the Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Shanghai)

Desirable Qualifications

• Ability to teach papers related to Introduction to Sociology, Indian Society, Society and Polity, Urban Sociology, and Research Methodology.
• Preference will be given to candidates with a Ph.D. in the relevant field and two or more years of teaching experience.
• Research experience on Northeast India and its transnational neighbourhood is highly desirable.
• Ability to teach inter-disciplinary courses across schools and centres at the Institute.
• Good research and publication track record in peer-reviewed national and international journals.
• Ability to supervise Bachelor's and Master's level students.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to relate to and engage with faculty and students from diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to work on projects and with interdisciplinary teams.

Age Limit and Citizenship

No upper age limit has been prescribed for this post. Indian citizens are eligible to apply. The Institute reserves the right to relax qualifications based on the work experience of the candidate and to relax the age in the case of persons already holding comparable positions in a University or Research Institution of repute.

Application Fee

The application fee is Rs. 1,000 for unreserved candidates and is payable online. Candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe, or Persons with Disability categories are required to pay a reduced fee of Rs. 250, provided they attach the required certificate to the online application form. Women applicants are exempted from payment of application fees. The application is valid only on receipt of the application fee, where applicable. Fees once paid shall not be refunded under any circumstances.

Selection Process

The selection will be based on a shortlisting of applications received against the prescribed qualifications, followed by a presentation and interview. The interview will be conducted offline at the TISS Guwahati Campus in the third week of September 2026. Eligible candidates will be informed of the schedule by email. No TA/DA is payable for appearing for the presentation or interview. The Institute reserves the right to invite persons for interview who have not applied through the formal advertisement route and to not fill the vacancy advertised. Canvassing in any form is strictly prohibited and will lead to disqualification. Merely possessing the prescribed qualifications and requisite experience does not entitle a candidate to be called for the presentation or interview.

How to Apply

1. Visit the official TISS website at www.tiss.ac.in and locate the "Apply Now" link against Advertisement No. ADVT/ACAD/TISS-GC/SEPT/2026.
2. Register on the careers portal with a valid email address and mobile number.
3. Fill in personal details, educational qualifications, research and publication record, and work experience.
4. Upload scanned copies of the relevant certificates, photograph, and signature as per the prescribed format and size.
5. Pay the applicable application fee online through the available payment gateway.
6. Submit the application and download the acknowledgement slip. Retain a printed copy for future reference.

The application window opens on 01 September 2026 and closes at the end of 16 September 2026. Applications received after the closing date and time, or incomplete applications, will be summarily rejected.

Documents Required at the Time of Interview

Shortlisted candidates must carry self-attested photocopies of their certificates in support of the essential qualifications, NET/SLET/SET or Ph.D. certificate, age proof, category certificate (if applicable), and experience certificates (if any). Candidates currently in employment must bring a No Objection Certificate from their employer to appear for the presentation and interview, failing which their candidature may be cancelled. Original certificates will be verified only for the selected candidate at the time of appointment, and the candidate is required to join the post within 10 to 15 days of selection.

Terms, Conditions, and Disclaimers

• The post is on a contract basis only and does not confer any right to permanent absorption in TISS.
• The Institute reserves the right to relax qualifications based on relevant work experience and to relax the age in the case of persons already holding comparable positions in a University or Research Institution of repute.
• The Institute reserves the right to invite persons for interview who have not applied through the formal route and to not fill the vacancy advertised.
• The post is unreserved, but candidates belonging to reserved categories may also apply.
• No queries or correspondence regarding the issue of call letters for interview or selection of candidates will be entertained at any stage.
• In case of any inadvertent error in the advertisement or in the recruitment process, even after the issue of an appointment order, the Institute reserves the right to modify, withdraw, or cancel any communication made to the candidate(s).
• The decision of the Institute in all matters relating to eligibility, shortlisting, selection, and engagement shall be final and binding.

About Guwahati as a Workplace and the Northeast Context

Guwahati is the largest city of the Indian state of Assam and serves as the gateway to the eight states of Northeast India. The TISS Guwahati Off-Campus is located within this region and has developed research and teaching collaborations that focus on the social, political, and cultural specificities of Northeast India and its transnational neighbourhood, including neighbouring countries such as Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, and Nepal. Faculty members posted at the Guwahati campus have the opportunity to engage with regional universities, civil society organisations, and policy bodies working on issues such as migration, identity, governance, public health, education, and environmental sustainability. Candidates with demonstrated interest and experience in these areas are likely to find the position both professionally stimulating and socially meaningful.

Why This Opportunity Matters

This Assistant Professor post offers an opportunity to teach undergraduate Sociology in a vibrant, research-oriented environment at a Grade I deemed university, with a competitive entry-level pay in the 7th CPC Academic Pay Level 10. The contract is initially for the period up to 31 March 2027, with a clear scope for extension based on performance. The role is particularly suited to early-career academics with a strong foundation in sociological theory and methods, demonstrated research output, and a willingness to engage with the field realities of Northeast India. Successful candidates will have the opportunity to shape undergraduate Sociology pedagogy, supervise student research at the Bachelor's and Master's levels, and contribute to the academic life of a growing TISS campus.

Quick Reference

• Recruiter: Tata Institute of Social Sciences
• Campus: TISS Guwahati Off-Campus, Guwahati, Assam
• Department / Centre: Centre for Undergraduate Studies
• Post: 1 Assistant Professor (Sociology), Contract Basis
• Initial Term: Till 31 March 2027 (extendable)
• Pay: Rs. 57,700 per month, Academic Pay Level 10, 7th CPC
• Application Window: 01 September 2026 to 16 September 2026
• Application Fee: Rs. 1,000 (General); Rs. 250 (SC/ST/PwD); Exempted (Women)
• Interview: Offline at TISS Guwahati Campus, third week of September 2026
• Apply Online: www.tiss.ac.in
• Official Notification: https://tiss.ac.in/uploads/files/Advt._Assistant_Professor_Sociology_TISS_GC_1.9.2026.pdf

Candidates are advised to read the official advertisement carefully before submitting their application and to verify all details from the official notification available on the TISS website. The information given above is a summary for the convenience of applicants and does not substitute the official notification in any manner.