The TISS in Mumbai was established in 1936. It is the first school of social work in India. TISS was a pioneering effort, characteristic of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT). It was earlier known as Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work but it was renamed as the Tata Institute of Social Sciences in the year of 1944. The year 1964 was an important landmark in the history of the Institute, when it was recognized as a Deemed University by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of India.