How to prepare for M.Tech Research/MS interview at IISc/IITs | Complete Roadmap

Hello Everyone,

In this video, I will be sharing the complete strategy regarding how to prepare for M.Tech Research/MS interview at IISc or different IITs. This information I have collected from my friends who had already done their Mtech Research from IISc.

Link for the sample offer letter: https://www.csa.iisc.ac.in/newweb/wp-...

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Theory Pool :

Q1: Given an array of length N. If a particular number is more than N/2 times in an array, it is termed as majority. Suggest an algorithm to find if there is a majority in the given array.

Q2: Given a set of vertices,V, |V| = N. There exists an edge between any vertices u and v (u, v \in V, u \neq v) with probability p. Determine the expected number of triangles.

(This question was asked by many of my batchmates who got admission in the Theory pool. I got to know about it after joining IISc.)

Q3: What's the value of nCr + nCr+1? Give its proof as well.

(Value of first part was to be given without expanding the terms and solving them.)

Q4: Given a graph, suggest an algorithm to find how many edges in the graph are bridges. What is its time complexity?

There were a few follow-up questions for each of them. So the interview was more of a discussion. The professors were giving hints as well. :)

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System Pool :

Person-1 :

Questions Asked :
1. There are 2 sorted linked list. Merge them (Basic programming question)
2. A paging question (I exactly do not remember)
3. Explain Cache hirarchy. and then a numerical on cache hirarchy.

Person-2 :

1) Write Code to reverse linked list both iteratively and recursively.
2) How would you know from looking at source code that a program would terminate or not?
3) what happens when you push the power button of the CPU (how does OS get started)
4) Some Questions on process synchronization.
Usually, for each of the questions, they would dig deeper and deeper...so it's better to be honest because they will eventually know if you understand it or not.

Person-3 :

I) Computer Organisation:
(Questions bordering Architecture and Operating Systems)
What is virtual memory? How is it managed? Who manages the virtual memory? Why virtual memory?
What is the difference between TLBs and Caches?
How is content mapped to memory? [Expectation here is to know about different mechanisms like segment based, paging based.]
Are the granularity of caches and memory the same? If yes why so if no what are they?
What are the different cache hierarchies?
Given some configuration of cache, [I don't remember it], find the missing content like cache line size, number of sets, tag bits.
Understanding of 'test and set' instruction, atomic primitives in hardware.
II) Database Systems:
How do databases maintain isolation? What are the different granularities it can maintain isolation on?
How do databases maintain durability? How do databases handle failure of storage?
How is consistency achieved?
What are synchronisation primitives used?
What are atomic operations? Is it needed if there is only 1 query? Is it needed if there is only 1 user?
What are different types of databases? [column based and row based]. What are the (dis)advantages of each?
I am a row based database person, convince me that I should go for column based database with example and reason.
III) Data Structures and Algorithms:
A design question based on DVR routing algorithm. The Expectation was to design the data structures. Come with high-level API.
How is old and new content differentiated?
How are problems faced in the DVR algorithm handled?

Intellegent System :

1. What are eigen values and eigen vectors?
2. If you are given a matrix of order mxn, what are the number of eigen values it will have and why?
3. What do you mean by degree of a polynomial?(At this point I understood that they dig really deep to know whether we understand the basic maths concepts or not)
4. Can a matrix of order 3 have 3 eigen values, two of them real and one of them complex?
5. Take an example of a diagonal matrix and write it on the board.(I wrote).
6. Looking at this example can you say that it is possible to have a complex eigen value and two real eigen values?
7. Lets proceed further. Given a matrix relation A2=A, can u determine what will be the value of rank(A)+ rank(A-I)?
8. Okay so do you know what is a CDF?
9. What is a PDF?
10. Okay. Can you tell what is the pdf of an exponential random variable?
11. Okay. Prove how the sum of probabilities for all the points for this random variable is equal to 1.

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