Assistant Professor and Post Doctoral Fellow Recruitment at TISS, Mumbai and Hyderabad

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) invites applications for the post of Assistant Professor – Law and Public Policy (One Post) on contract basis and Post Doctoral Fellow (One-year fixed term) for its School of Public Policy and Governance (TISS Hyderabad Off Campus) and School of Law, Rights and Constitutional Governance (TISS Mumbai). Eligible candidates with a background in law, public policy, AI regulation, and governance are encouraged to apply. The last date to submit applications is 30th June 2026. This is a great opportunity for scholars who wish to contribute to teaching, research, and policy engagement at one of India’s top social science universities.

Official Notification Reference File: ADVT/TISS-HYD/ACAD/2026 dated 16.06.2026

Date Posted: 27 June 2026

Hiring Organization Name: Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)

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Organization Profile: The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), established in 1936, is a Deemed to be University fully funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC), Government of India. TISS holds Grade I University status with a NAAC score of 3.89 out of 4 and is ranked 60 under the NIRF University Rank Category for 2022. The Institute operates its main campus at Mumbai and off-campuses at Tuljapur, Guwahati, and Hyderabad. TISS currently offers over 52 Post Graduate programmes, 18 Doctoral programmes, and 4 Under Graduate programmes across inter-disciplinary and applied social science disciplines, along with over 30 B.Voc. programmes. The Institute maintains strong linkages between teaching, research, field action, and policy engagement, and actively nurtures national and international research collaborations.

The School of Public Policy and Governance (SPPG) is mandated to develop public policy professionals through multi-disciplinary training in Ethics and Policy, Economics (including Econometrics), Law, Sustainability, Political Science, and Sociology. The School offers eight post-graduate courses including MA in Public Policy and Governance, MA in Natural Resources and Governance, MA in Cities and Governance, MA in Public Policy and International Relations (Dual Degree with Macquarie University, Sydney), MA in Public Policy and Law (Integrated LLM), PGD in Public Policy and Governance, PGD in Natural Resources and Governance, and PGD in Cities and Governance.

The School of Law, Rights and Constitutional Governance (SLRCG) at TISS Mumbai recognises law, human rights, and public policy as central to democratic governance, development, and social justice. It is committed to socially relevant legal education that engages with policy design, governance processes, and rights-based interventions, while promoting rigorous education in human rights and constitutional governance.

Job Title/Designation: Assistant Professor – Law and Public Policy (Contract, One Year) and Post Doctoral Fellow (Fixed Term, One Year)

Vacancy Available in Departments:

• Assistant Professor – Law and Public Policy (One Post): Joint appointment at the School of Law, Rights and Constitutional Governance (SLRCG) and School of Public Policy and Governance (SPPG). The position is based across both the Hyderabad Off Campus and Mumbai Campus, with at least one semester per academic year at the Mumbai Campus.

• Post Doctoral Fellow (One Post): Joint supervision by faculty from the School of Public Policy and Governance, TISS Hyderabad, and the School of Law, Rights and Constitutional Governance, TISS Mumbai. Research focus expected in law and welfare policy, law and economics, or law and regulatory governance in the Indian context.

Essential Qualifications:

For Assistant Professor – Law and Public Policy:

Eligibility A:

• A Master’s degree with at least 55% marks (or equivalent grade) in Law from a recognised university.
• The candidate must have cleared the National Eligibility Test (NET) conducted by the UGC or CSIR, or a similar test accredited by the UGC such as SLET/SET. Candidates who hold a Ph.D. degree awarded in accordance with UGC (Minimum Standards and Procedure for Award of M.Phil./Ph.D. Degree) Regulations, 2009 or 2016 and their amendments are exempted from NET/SLET/SET.
• Candidates who registered for Ph.D. prior to 11th July 2009 are also exempted from NET/SLET/SET, subject to the following conditions: – The Ph.D. degree was awarded in regular mode. – The Ph.D. thesis was evaluated by at least two external examiners. – An open Ph.D. viva voce was conducted. – The candidate has published at least two research papers from Ph.D. work, of which at least one is in a refereed journal. – The candidate has presented at least two papers based on Ph.D. work in conferences or seminars sponsored or supported by UGC, ICSSR, CSIR, or similar agency. – The fulfilment of these conditions must be certified by the Registrar or Dean (Academic Affairs) of the concerned university.

Eligibility B:

Ph.D. degree obtained from a foreign university or institution ranked among the top 500 in the World University Rankings by any of the following: Quacquarelli Symonds (QS), Times Higher Education (THE), or Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) by Shanghai Jiao Tong University.

For Post Doctoral Fellow:

• Ph.D. degree in Law, Law and Economics, Law and Public Policy, or any other interdisciplinary discipline with explicit focus on law, legislative and legal aspects of public policy (Provisional Certificate may be accepted if the degree has not yet been formally awarded).
• General category candidates must have a minimum of 55% marks or equivalent CGPA at the postgraduate level (5% relaxation for reserved categories – SC/ST/OBC Non-Creamy Layer/PWD/Transgender).
• Candidates already availing any kind of Post Doctoral Fellowship from UGC are not eligible to apply.
• If selected, the candidate must resign from any existing fellowship or remuneration before joining the Post-Doctoral Fellowship at TISS.

Desirable Qualifications:

For Assistant Professor:

• Ph.D. with interdisciplinary academic background in areas such as Artificial Intelligence and law, data protection, cyber governance, or technology policy.
• Teaching experience at undergraduate or postgraduate level in law or public policy programmes, with evidence of practice-oriented and socially responsive pedagogy.
• Publications in peer-reviewed journals and experience in supervising postgraduate dissertations or doctoral research.
• Professional experience as an advocate or engagement with courts, regulatory bodies, government institutions, or civil society organisations.

For Post Doctoral Fellow:

• Demonstrated research interest at the intersection of law and public policy, with focus on welfare policy, law and economics, or regulatory and governance frameworks in the Indian context.
• Strong grounding in public law, regulatory law, or policy analysis linking legal frameworks to policy outcomes, markets, and governance processes.
• Evidence of quality research output including publications in peer-reviewed journals, policy briefs, or working papers.
• Familiarity with interdisciplinary research methods such as doctrinal, empirical, qualitative, or mixed methods.
• Willingness to undertake academic coordination or programme administration such as organising seminars, workshops, and research projects.
• Ability to work collaboratively across interdisciplinary academic environments and across Hyderabad and Mumbai campuses.

Age Limit: For Post Doctoral Fellow – Candidates must be below 35 years of age as of the last date of application. Age relaxation of 5 years is applicable for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/Women/PWD (Persons with Disabilities)/Transgender candidates.

Salary Details:

• Assistant Professor: Entry pay of Rs. 57,700/- in the Academic Pay Level 10 as per the 7th Central Pay Commission (CPC).

• Post Doctoral Fellow: Rs. 80,000/- consolidated per month, with annual increment if the fellowship is extended beyond one year, as per Institute’s norms.

Job Location: Mumbai and Hyderabad, Maharashtra and Telangana

Apply Mode: Online (through the Institute’s official website)

Important Dates:

• Last Date to Apply: 30th June 2026
• Interview: Eligible candidates will be communicated by email to appear for a presentation and interview.
• Joining Timeline: The selected candidate must join within 15 days of selection.

Application Fees:

• General/OBC candidates: Rs. 1,000/- (to be paid online)
• SC/ST/PWD candidates: Waived (attach required certificate with the application)
• Women candidates: Waived
• Note: Application fee once paid will not be refunded under any circumstances.

Organization Website: www.tiss.edu

How to Apply: Interested and eligible candidates must apply online through the link (Apply Now) provided on the TISS official website at www.tiss.edu. Candidates are advised to take a print of the online application acknowledgement and keep it for future reference. The last date to submit the online application is 30th June 2026. Candidates who had applied earlier against Advertisement No. ADVT/TISS-HYD/ACAD/2026 dated 24th April 2026 need not apply again; their earlier applications will be considered along with fresh applications received against this advertisement.

To Submit Online Application: www.tiss.edu (Apply Now link on the official website)

Organization Address:
Tata Institute of Social Sciences
V N Purav Marg Deonar
Mumbai – 400 088 Maharashtra

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Official Notification for Reference: Tata Institute of Social Sciences – Assistant Professor and Post Doctoral Fellow Job Opening Notification

General Instructions for Candidates Applying for TISS Jobs:

• The Institute reserves the right to relax qualifications based on work experience and to relax age for candidates already holding comparable positions in a reputed University or Research Institution.
• The Institute reserves the right to invite persons for interview who may not have applied as per the above procedure, and also reserves the right not to fill up the vacancy advertised.
• Merely possessing the prescribed qualifications and experience does not guarantee a call for interview, as applications received may be short-listed.
• The post is unreserved; however, candidates belonging to reserved categories are welcome to apply.
• No queries or correspondence regarding the issue of call letters for interview or selection of candidates will be entertained at any stage. Canvassing in any form is strictly prohibited and will result in the candidate being disqualified.
• Candidates currently employed must bring a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from their employer to appear for the presentation or interview.
• No Travel Allowance (TA) or Daily Allowance (DA) will be provided for appearing in the interview.
• In case of any inadvertent error detected at any stage, even after the issue of the appointment order, the Institute reserves the right to modify, withdraw, or cancel any communication made to the candidate(s).
• The selected candidate for the Assistant Professor position will be required to work across both Hyderabad Off Campus and Mumbai Campus, spending at least one semester per academic year at the Mumbai Campus.

The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is a rare workplace that blends academic rigour with real-world policy impact. Whether you are a legal scholar with an interest in AI governance or a post-doctoral researcher focused on welfare policy, this recruitment opens doors to meaningful academic careers. Eligible candidates are strongly encouraged to submit their applications before 30th June 2026 and be part of a university that is shaping public policy and governance in India.

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. What is the last date to apply for the Assistant Professor and Post Doctoral Fellow positions at TISS? The last date to submit the online application for both the Assistant Professor – Law and Public Policy position and the Post Doctoral Fellow position at TISS, Mumbai and Hyderabad, is 30th June 2026.

2. What is the salary offered for the Assistant Professor – Law and Public Policy post at TISS? The Assistant Professor at TISS will receive an entry pay of Rs. 57,700/- placed in Academic Pay Level 10 as per the 7th Central Pay Commission (7th CPC) norms.

3. What is the compensation for the Post Doctoral Fellowship at TISS Hyderabad and Mumbai? The Post Doctoral Fellow will receive a consolidated monthly salary of Rs. 80,000/-, with the possibility of an annual increment if the fellowship is extended beyond the initial one-year fixed term, as per the Institute’s norms.

4. Is NET/SLET/SET mandatory for applying to the Assistant Professor post at TISS? Candidates who hold a Ph.D. degree awarded in line with UGC Regulations 2009 or 2016 are exempted from NET/SLET/SET. Candidates who registered for Ph.D. before 11th July 2009 are also eligible for exemption subject to specific conditions related to thesis evaluation, publications, and seminar presentations.

5. What is the age limit for the Post Doctoral Fellowship at TISS? Candidates applying for the Post Doctoral Fellow position at TISS must be below 35 years of age as of the last date of application. A relaxation of 5 years is provided for SC/ST/OBC (Non-Creamy Layer)/Women/PWD and Transgender candidates.

6. What is the application fee for TISS Assistant Professor recruitment 2026? The application fee is Rs. 1,000/- and must be paid online. SC/ST/PWD candidates are exempted from the application fee on submission of the required certificate. Women candidates are also fully exempted from the application fee.

7. What are the key research areas expected for the Post Doctoral Fellow position at TISS? The Post Doctoral Fellow at TISS is expected to undertake research in areas such as law and welfare policy, law and economics, or law and regulatory governance with a focus on the Indian context. The Fellow should also be able to analyse how legal frameworks, regulatory institutions, and policy instruments shape policy outcomes, markets, and governance processes.