Archive · 1 Feb 2026
TISS Students Protest New Council Elections
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) in Mumbai is making big changes to how students can be involved in campus politics.
They are replacing the old Students’ Union with a new Students’ Council.
This means instead of having a small group of leaders like a president and vice-president, every class will now have one representative.
These representatives will form the bigger Students’ Council.
The administration says this will give more students a chance to be involved.
However, some students are worried because they think these changes will make it harder for students to have a say in important decisions.
The new rules also require students running for elections to promise they are not part of any political groups.
Some students feel this is unfair and that the changes were not discussed openly with them.
The administration says these changes are to make things more organized and to focus on students' welfare.
TISS Mumbai is replacing the Students’ Union with a Students’ Council, with one representative from each class.
Student representatives will no longer be part of key decision-making bodies like the Academic Council and Disciplinary Committee.
New election rules require candidates to declare no political affiliations, among other conditions.
Students have raised concerns about reduced representation and lack of transparency in the rule changes.
The administration insists the changes aim to increase student participation and decentralize power.
- Who
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) administration and students
- What
- Replacement of Students’ Union with Students’ Council and introduction of new election rules
- When
- Elections scheduled for February 6
- Where
- TISS Mumbai campus
- Why
- To ensure wider student participation and decentralization of power, according to the administration
- Institution
- Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)
- Location
- Mumbai campus
- Election Date
- February 6
- New Body
- Students’ Council
- Key Changes
- Replaced Students’ Union, removed student reps from key bodies, mandatory non-political affiliation
- Student Concerns
- Reduced student representation, lack of transparency in rule changes
- Administration's Stance
- Wider student participation, decentralization of power, routine undertaking process
Sources
TISS redraws rules of campus politics, replaces students’ union with council, removes student reps from key admin bodies
More representation but less power? The debate over TISS’s new student body framework
