Since programming fundamentals like OOP, API development, and database design remain the same

across languages, transitioning between .NET and Python becomes easier. Currently I am also studying
AI/ML, where Python is widely used, so I am strengthening my Python knowledge as well.

Python is widely used for backend development, automation, and AI/ML. Its simplicity and large
ecosystem make development faster.

What are Python’s key features?

 Interpreted language
 Dynamically typed
 Object-oriented
 Large standard library
 Cross-platform
 Easy to read and write

Difference between List and Tuple

List Tuple
Mutable Immutable
Uses [] Uses ()
Slower Faster
Can modify elements Cannot modify

Example:

my_list = [1,2,3]
my_tuple = (1,2,3)

3️What is a Dictionary in Python?

A dictionary stores key-value pairs.

Example:

employee = {
"name": "John",
"age": 30
}

Access:

print(employee["name"])

4️ What is List Comprehension?

A concise way to create lists.

Example:

numbers = [x*x for x in range(5)]

Output:

[0,1,4,9,16]

5️ What are *args and **kwargs?

Used to pass variable number of arguments.

Example:

def add(*args):
return sum(args)

Example kwargs:

def info(**kwargs):
print(kwargs)

6️ What is a Lambda Function?

Anonymous function with a single expression.

Example:

square = lambda x: x*x

print(square(5))

Output: 25

7️ Difference between Deep Copy and Shallow Copy

Shallow Copy

Copies reference.

Deep Copy

Creates new object including nested objects.

Example:
import copy

a = [[1,2],[3,4]]
b = [Link](a)

8️ What is the Global Interpreter Lock (GIL)?

GIL allows only one thread to execute Python bytecode at a time, which limits true
parallelism in CPU-bound tasks.

However, it does not affect I/O-bound tasks much.

9️ What are Python Decorators?

Decorators modify the behavior of a function without changing its code.

Example:

def my_decorator(func):
def wrapper():
print("Before")
func()
print("After")
return wrapper

10 What are Generators?

Generators produce values one at a time using yield.

Example:

def numbers():
for i in range(5):
yield i

Benefit: memory efficient

1 What is the difference between is and ==?

Operator Meaning
== compares values
is compares memory location

Example:
a = [1,2]
b = [1,2]

print(a == b) # True
print(a is b) # False

12 What is Exception Handling in Python?

Used to handle runtime errors.

Example:

try:
x = 10/0
except ZeroDivisionError:
print("Cannot divide by zero")

13. What are Python Modules and Packages?

Module

A single Python file.

Package

A collection of modules.

Example:

[Link] → module
utils/ → package

14. Difference between Multithreading and Multiprocessing

Multithreading Multiprocessing
Uses threads Uses separate processes
Limited by GIL True parallelism
Good for I/O tasks Good for CPU tasks

15 What are Python Virtual Environments?

Used to isolate dependencies for different projects.

Command:

python -m venv env

Activate:

env\Scripts\activate

⭐ BONUS question (often asked)

Q: Why Python is preferred for AI/ML?

Answer:

 Huge ecosystem (NumPy, Pandas, TensorFlow)

 Simple syntax
 Fast prototyping
 Large community support

🔥 One trick for your interview

Since your background is .NET, interviewers may ask:

“How easy is it for you to switch from .NET to Python?”

Best answer:

“Since programming concepts like OOP, APIs, and database design remain the same, switching
languages is mainly about syntax. My strong backend experience helps me adapt quickly.”

10 scenario-based Python questions TCS asks experienced candidates.

Question:
You need to process a 10GB log file in Python without running out of memory. How will you do
it?

Answer approach:

 Use generators or streaming

 Read the file line by line

Example:
with open("[Link]") as f:
for line in f:
process(line)

Why:
This avoids loading the whole file into memory.

2️ Scenario: API Performance Issue

Question:
Your Python API is slow when multiple users access it. What steps will you take?

Answer approach:

 Use caching (Redis / in-memory cache)

 Optimize database queries
 Use async programming
 Implement load balancing

Mention frameworks like FastAPI / Flask if needed.

3️ Scenario: Handling Multiple Tasks

Question:
You need to fetch data from 100 APIs simultaneously. How will you implement this in Python?

Answer approach:

Use asyncio or multithreading.

Example:

import asyncio
import aiohttp

Why:
Async I/O handles multiple requests efficiently.

4️ Scenario: Memory Optimization

Question:
Your Python program consumes too much memory. How will you optimize it?

Answer approach:

 Use generators instead of lists

 Delete unused objects
 Use gc module
 Use efficient data structures

Example:

(x*x for x in range(1000000))

Instead of

[x*x for x in range(1000000)]

5️ Scenario: Duplicate Data Removal

Question:
You receive millions of records and need to remove duplicates efficiently.

Answer approach:

Use set or dictionary.

Example:

data = [1,2,3,2,1]
unique = list(set(data))

6️ Scenario: Error Handling in Production

Question:
Your Python application crashes due to unexpected errors. What will you do?

Answer approach:

 Implement proper exception handling

 Add logging
 Monitor using tools

Example:
import logging

try:
process()
except Exception as e:
[Link](e)

7️ Scenario: Background Jobs

Question:
You need to run background tasks like sending emails or generating reports.

Answer approach:

Use task queues like:

 Celery
 RabbitMQ
 Redis

This avoids blocking the main application.

8️ Scenario: Database Optimization

Question:
Your Python application using SQL is slow. How will you optimize it?

Answer approach:

 Use indexes
 Optimize SQL queries
 Avoid unnecessary joins
 Use connection pooling

This is important because your profile already includes SQL Server and PL/SQL experience.

9 Scenario: Secure Coding

Question:
How will you prevent SQL injection in Python applications?

Answer approach:
Use parameterized queries.

Example:

[Link]("SELECT * FROM users WHERE id=%s", (user_id,))

Avoid:

"SELECT * FROM users WHERE id=" + user_id

Scenario: Code Maintainability

Question:
Your Python codebase is becoming difficult to maintain. What will you do?

Answer approach:

 Follow OOP principles

 Use design patterns
 Write modular code
 Add unit tests

Example tools:

 pytest
 unittest

⭐ One scenario they often ask experienced developers

“How would you design a scalable Python backend system?”

Expected points:

 REST APIs
 Microservices architecture
 Database optimization
 Caching
 Containerization (Docker)

✅ Since you have 6 years experience in .NET + SQL, the interviewer may also ask cross-
language questions like:
  “Compare Python and C# performance”
 “When would you choose Python over .NET?”
 “How will you migrate a .NET service to Python?

Reverse a String

Question: Reverse a string without using built-in functions.

def reverse_string(s):
rev = ""
for char in s:
rev = char + rev
return rev

print(reverse_string("hello"))

Output: olleh

2️ Find Duplicate Elements in a List

def find_duplicates(lst):
seen = set()
duplicates = set()

for num in lst:

if num in seen:
[Link](num)
else:
[Link](num)

return list(duplicates)

print(find_duplicates([1,2,3,2,4,5,1]))

Output: [1,2]
3️ Fibonacci Series

def fibonacci(n):
a, b = 0, 1
for i in range(n):
print(a, end=" ")
a, b = b, a + b

fibonacci(10)

Output:
0 1 1 2 3 5 8 13 21 34

4️ Check if a String is a Palindrome

def is_palindrome(s):
return s == s[::-1]

print(is_palindrome("madam"))

Output: True

5️ Count Frequency of Characters in a String

def char_frequency(s):
freq = {}

for char in s:
freq[char] = [Link](char,0) + 1

return freq

print(char_frequency("hello"))

Output:
{'h':1,'e':1,'l':2,'o':1}

6️ Find the Largest Element in a List

def find_max(lst):
max_num = lst[0]

for num in lst:

if num > max_num:
max_num = num

return max_num

print(find_max([5,8,2,10,3]))

Output: 10

7️ Remove Duplicates from a List

def remove_duplicates(lst):
return list(set(lst))

print(remove_duplicates([1,2,2,3,4,4,5]))

Output: [1,2,3,4,5]

8️ Check if Two Strings are Anagrams

def is_anagram(a,b):
return sorted(a) == sorted(b)

print(is_anagram("listen","silent"))

Output: True

9️ Find Missing Number in an Array

Example array from 1 to n.

def missing_number(arr,n):
expected = n*(n+1)//2
actual = sum(arr)
return expected - actual

print(missing_number([1,2,3,5],5))

Output: 4
10 Sort a List without Using sort()

def bubble_sort(arr):
n = len(arr)

for i in range(n):
for j in range(0,n-i-1):
if arr[j] > arr[j+1]:
arr[j],arr[j+1] = arr[j+1],arr[j]

return arr

print(bubble_sort([5,3,8,1]))

Output: [1,3,5,8]

Reverse Words in a Sentence (Not Characters)

Question

Input:

"Python is powerful"

Output:

"powerful is Python"

Many candidates mistakenly reverse characters.

Correct Code

def reverse_words(sentence):
words = [Link]()
return " ".join(words[::-1])

print(reverse_words("Python is powerful"))

Output:

powerful is Python
2️ Find the First Non-Repeating Character

Question

Input:

"programming"

Output:

Solution

from collections import Counter

def first_unique(s):
count = Counter(s)

for char in s:
if count[char] == 1:
return char

print(first_unique("programming"))

3️Swap Two Numbers Without Using a Temporary Variable

Many candidates overcomplicate this.

Python Solution

a = 5
b = 10

a, b = b, a

print(a, b)

Output:

10 5

Python supports tuple unpacking.

4️ Flatten a Nested List

Input

[1, [2,3], [4,[5,6]]]

Expected output:

[1,2,3,4,5,6]

Solution

def flatten(lst):
result = []

for item in lst:

if isinstance(item,list):
[Link](flatten(item))
else:
[Link](item)

return result

print(flatten([1,[2,3],[4,[5,6]]]))

This tests recursion knowledge.

5️Python Output Question (Very Common Trap)

Question

What will be the output?

a = [1,2,3]
b = a
[Link](4)

print(a)

Most candidates say:

[1,2,3]

❌ Wrong.

Correct Output

[1,2,3,4]

Because lists are mutable and both variables reference the same object.
One extremely common trap question

What will be the output?

def add_item(item, lst=[]):

[Link](item)
return lst

print(add_item(1))
print(add_item(2))

Most people say:

[1]
[2]

❌ Wrong.

Actual output:

[1]
[1,2]

Because default mutable arguments are shared between function calls.

7 common trap questions and the smartest way to answer them.

1 You have 6 years of experience. Why are you still working on the
same technology?

Trap: They want to see if you are stagnant.

Smart answer:

“While my core expertise has been in .NET backend development, I’ve consistently expanded
my skills by working on API design, database optimization, and automation. Recently I have
also been strengthening my Python skills because of its growing role in backend services and
AI/ML.”

This shows growth mindset.

2 Why should we hire you when many candidates have Python as their
primary skill?

Trap: They compare you with stronger Python candidates.

Smart answer:

“Apart from learning Python, I bring strong backend engineering experience including OOP,
REST API design, and database optimization with SQL Server and PL/SQL. These fundamentals
apply across languages, so I can quickly contribute while adapting to Python-based systems.”

This shows transferable skills.

3 Explain a project where you failed.

Trap: They test honesty and accountability.

Smart answer structure

1. Situation
2. What went wrong
3. What you learned

Example:

“In one project we underestimated performance requirements which caused delays in production.
I later worked on query optimization and implemented caching, which improved performance
significantly. That experience helped me plan scalability better in later projects.”

Never say “I never failed.”

4 If we give you a technology you have never used before, how long
will you take to learn it?

Trap: They test adaptability.

Smart answer:
“Since programming concepts like OOP, APIs, and database design are common across
languages, I usually focus on understanding the syntax and ecosystem first. I believe I can
become productive in a few weeks while continuously improving through real project work.”

5 What is something in Python you don’t know?

Trap: If you claim you know everything, it looks fake.

Smart answer:

“While I’m comfortable with core Python concepts like data structures, OOP, and scripting, I am
still exploring advanced topics such as deep performance tuning and large-scale distributed
processing.”

Shows honesty + learning attitude.

6 Why are you leaving your current company?

Trap: They check negativity.

Never complain.

Smart answer:

“I’ve had a great learning experience in my current organization. However, I’m now looking for
opportunities where I can work on larger systems and expand my skills in technologies like
Python and modern backend architectures.”

7 What will you do if you are stuck on a problem for a long time?

Trap: They check teamwork and problem solving.

Smart answer:

“First I try to analyze the problem by breaking it into smaller parts and checking logs or
documentation. If I’m still stuck, I discuss it with teammates or seniors. Collaboration often
helps resolve issues faster and improves overall team productivity.”
If this question is asked in an interview at Tata Consultancy Services, they are testing your
system design thinking and migration approach, not just Python knowledge. You should
answer step-by-step like an architect.

Here is a strong interview answer structure.

How to Migrate a .NET Service to Python

1 Understand the Existing .NET Service

First, analyze the current .NET architecture.

Check:

 Business logic
 APIs/endpoints
 Database interactions
 External integrations
 Authentication and security

Example stack:

 [Link] Web API

 SQL Server
 IIS hosting

Understanding this helps avoid breaking functionality.

2 Identify Python Framework

Choose a suitable Python framework depending on the application.

Common choices:

 Flask – lightweight microservices

 FastAPI – high performance APIs
 Django – full-stack applications

For most API migrations, FastAPI or Flask works well.

3 Replicate API Endpoints

Rewrite the existing .NET controllers as Python API endpoints.

Example:

.NET API

[HttpGet]
public IActionResult GetUsers()
{
return Ok([Link]());
}

Python (FastAPI)

from fastapi import FastAPI

app = FastAPI()

@[Link]("/users")
def get_users():
return user_service.get_users()

Goal: Keep API contracts same so front-end is unaffected.

4 Migrate Business Logic

Rewrite core logic using Python modules.

Use:

 Python classes
 OOP principles
 Service layers

Example:

controllers
services
repositories
models

Similar layered architecture as .NET.

5 Database Integration

Since you already know SQL Server and PL/SQL, highlight this.

Options:

 Use SQLAlchemy ORM

 Use raw SQL queries
 Maintain same database schema

Example:

from sqlalchemy import create_engine

engine = create_engine("mssql+pyodbc://connection_string")

6 Implement Security & Authentication

Migrate:

 JWT authentication
 OAuth if used
 API validation

Python libraries:

 python-jose
 passlib
 [Link]

7 Testing the New Service

Perform:

 Unit testing
 Integration testing
 API testing

Tools:

 pytest
 Postman

Goal: Ensure Python service behaves exactly like the .NET service.
8 Deployment

Deploy using modern tools:

 Docker containers
 Kubernetes
 CI/CD pipeline

Python apps can run with:

 Uvicorn
 Gunicorn

Strong Closing Line (Very Important)

End your answer like this:

“During migration, I would prefer a phased approach where both services run in parallel. This
ensures minimal downtime and allows gradual validation before completely switching
from .NET to Python.”

This shows production-level thinking.

Bonus: Why companies migrate from .NET to Python

You can add:

 Faster development
 Better ecosystem for AI/ML
 Simpler syntax
 Strong open-source libraries

1️ Mutable vs Immutable Objects

Mutable

Objects whose value can be changed after creation.

Examples:

 List
 Dictionary
 Set

Example:

my_list = [1,2,3]
my_list.append(4)
print(my_list)

Output:

[1,2,3,4]

The original object changes in memory.

Immutable

Objects whose value cannot be changed after creation.

Examples:

 int
 string
 tuple

Example:

x = "hello"
x = x + " world"
print(x)

A new object is created, the original string is not modified.

Quick Interview Table

Mutable Immutable

Can change value Cannot change value

 Mutable Immutable

Same memory object modified New object created

Examples: list, dict Examples: int, str, tuple

2️ Shallow Copy vs Deep Copy

This question tests memory references.

Shallow Copy

Copies the reference of nested objects.

Example:

import copy

a = [[1,2],[3,4]]
b = [Link](a)

b[0][0] = 100
print(a)

Output:

[[100,2],[3,4]]

Because inner list reference is shared.

Deep Copy

Creates completely independent copies.

Example:

import copy

a = [[1,2],[3,4]]
b = [Link](a)

b[0][0] = 100
print(a)
Output:

[[1,2],[3,4]]

Original object remains unchanged.

Quick Comparison
Shallow Copy Deep Copy

Copies references Copies full objects

Faster Slower

Changes may affect original Completely independent

3️ Generators vs Lists

This question checks memory optimization knowledge.

List

Stores all values in memory at once.

Example:

numbers = [x*x for x in range(5)]

print(numbers)

Output:

[0,1,4,9,16]

Generator

Produces values one at a time using yield.

Example:

def squares():
for i in range(5):
yield i*i

for num in squares():

print(num)
Why Generators Are Powerful

Example scenario:

Processing millions of records or large files.

Generators are memory efficient because they produce values on demand.

Quick Comparison
Generator List

Uses yield Uses list syntax

Memory efficient Stores entire list

Lazy evaluation Immediate evaluation

One interview trick question

Which is better: generator or list?

Correct answer:

“Generators are better for large datasets and streaming data because they are memory efficient,
while lists are better when we need random access or repeated iterations.”

is vs ==
==

Checks value equality.

a = [1,2,3]
b = [1,2,3]

print(a == b)

Output:

True

Because the values are the same.

is

Checks memory location (object identity).

print(a is b)

Output:

False

Because both lists are different objects in memory.

Interview Line

"== compares values, while is checks whether two variables refer to the same object in
memory."

2️ Python Memory Management & Garbage Collection

Python automatically manages memory using:

 Reference counting
 Garbage collection

Example:

a = [1,2,3]
b = a
del a

The object is not deleted because b still references it.

Once reference count becomes zero, Python frees the memory.

3️Decorators

Decorators allow you to modify a function's behavior without changing its code.
Example:

def logger(func):
def wrapper():
print("Function started")
func()
print("Function ended")
return wrapper

@logger
def say_hello():
print("Hello")

say_hello()

Output:

Function started
Hello
Function ended

4️Iterators vs Generators

Iterator

Object with:

 __iter__()
 __next__()

Example:

nums = iter([1,2,3])

print(next(nums))
print(next(nums))

Generator

Simpler way to create iterators using yield.

Example:

def count():
for i in range(3):
yield i

Generators automatically manage iterator behavior.

5️ Python GIL (Global Interpreter Lock)

Very common interview question.

What it is

GIL ensures only one thread executes Python bytecode at a time.

Impact

 Limits true parallel execution for CPU tasks

 Does not significantly affect I/O-bound tasks

Example:

 API calls → fine with threads

 Heavy computation → better with multiprocessing

Smart Interview Tip

After answering these questions, you can impress the interviewer by connecting it with real-
world scenarios:

Example:

“Generators are especially useful when processing large log files or streaming data because they
avoid loading the entire dataset into memory.”

For 5–7 years experienced backend developers, interviewers (including at Tata Consultancy
Services) focus heavily on OOP concepts in Python. They want to see whether you understand
design, structure, and maintainable code, not just syntax.

Below are 10 very important Python OOP questions with clear explanations you can give in
interviews.

1️ What are the four pillars of OOP?

Answer

1. Encapsulation – Wrapping data and methods into a class

 2. Abstraction – Hiding internal implementation details
3. Inheritance – Creating a new class from an existing class
4. Polymorphism – Same method behaving differently

Example:

class Animal:
def speak(self):
print("Animal sound")

2️ What is a Class and Object in Python?

Class
Blueprint for creating objects.

Object
Instance of a class.

Example:

class Car:
def __init__(self,name):
[Link] = name

car1 = Car("BMW")

Here:

 Car → class
 car1 → object

3️ What is __init__ in Python?

__init__ is a constructor that runs automatically when an object is created.

Example:

class Person:
def __init__(self,name):
[Link] = name

Used to initialize object attributes.

4️ What is Encapsulation?

Encapsulation means restricting direct access to variables and using methods.

Example:

class Bank:
def __init__(self,balance):
self.__balance = balance

__balance becomes private.

Access through methods:

def get_balance(self):
return self.__balance

5️ What is Inheritance?

Inheritance allows a class to reuse properties of another class.

Example:

class Animal:
def speak(self):
print("Animal sound")

class Dog(Animal):
pass

d = Dog()
[Link]()

6️ What is Method Overriding?

Child class modifies the parent class method.

Example:

class Animal:
def speak(self):
print("Animal sound")

class Dog(Animal):
def speak(self):
print("Bark")
7️ What is Polymorphism?

Same method works differently for different objects.

Example:

class Dog:
def sound(self):
print("Bark")

class Cat:
def sound(self):
print("Meow")

for animal in (Dog(),Cat()):

[Link]()

8️ What are @staticmethod and @classmethod?

Static Method

Does not depend on class or instance.

class Math:
@staticmethod
def add(a,b):
return a+b

Class Method

Works with the class itself.

class Person:
count = 0

@classmethod
def increment(cls):
[Link] += 1

9️ What is Abstraction?

Hiding complex implementation and showing only essential features.

Example using abstract class:

from abc import ABC, abstractmethod

class Shape(ABC):

@abstractmethod
def area(self):
pass

Child class must implement area().

10 What is Multiple Inheritance?

A class can inherit from multiple parent classes.

Example:

class A:
pass

class B:
pass

class C(A,B):
pass

Python resolves this using MRO (Method Resolution Order).

One very common follow-up question

Interviewers may ask:

“What is the difference between abstraction and encapsulation?”

Best answer:

Encapsulation Abstraction

Hides data Hides implementation

Achieved using access modifiers Achieved using abstract classes

One powerful tip for your interview

Since your background is .NET, you can say:

“OOP principles like inheritance, encapsulation, and polymorphism remain the same across
languages like C# and Python. The main difference is syntax and some implementation details.”

This shows strong engineering thinking.

For backend developers with ~6 years experience, interviewers at Tata Consultancy Services
often ask Python + SQL scenario questions.
These test whether you can build real backend systems, not just write scripts.

Below are 5 common scenarios with the kind of answers interviewers expect.

1️ Scenario: Fetching Large Data from Database

Question

Your Python application needs to fetch millions of records from SQL Server. Loading
everything into memory causes performance issues. How will you solve it?

Expected approach

 Fetch data in batches

 Use pagination
 Use generators

Example:

[Link]("SELECT * FROM users")

while True:
rows = [Link](1000)
if not rows:
break
for row in rows:
process(row)

Why this works

 Avoids loading entire dataset into memory.

2️ Scenario: Prevent SQL Injection

Question
Your Python API receives user input and queries the database. How will you prevent SQL
injection?

❌ Wrong approach

query = "SELECT * FROM users WHERE name = '" + name + "'"

✔ Correct approach (Parameterized query)

[Link](
"SELECT * FROM users WHERE name=%s",
(name,)
)

This ensures safe query execution.

3️ Scenario: Slow Database Query

Question

Your Python application is slow because database queries take too long. What steps will you
take?

Expected answer

1. Analyze query using execution plan

2. Add indexes
3. Optimize joins
4. Fetch only required columns
5. Use connection pooling

Example improvement:

SELECT id,name
FROM users
WHERE email = ?

Instead of:

SELECT *
FROM users

4️ Scenario: Handling Transactions

Question
You are inserting data into multiple tables using Python. If one insert fails, all changes should
rollback. How will you implement this?

Example:

try:
[Link]()

[Link]("INSERT INTO orders VALUES (...)")

[Link]("INSERT INTO payments VALUES (...)")

[Link]()

except:
[Link]()

This ensures data consistency.

5️ Scenario: API Returning Paginated Results

Question

Your API should return 100 records per request instead of the full dataset.

SQL query:

SELECT *
FROM employees
ORDER BY id
OFFSET 0 ROWS
FETCH NEXT 100 ROWS ONLY

Python example:

page_size = 100
offset = (page - 1) * page_size

query = """
SELECT *
FROM employees
ORDER BY id
OFFSET %s ROWS FETCH NEXT %s ROWS ONLY
"""

One advanced scenario they may ask

“How would you design a Python API that handles 10,000 database requests per second?”
Expected points:

 Connection pooling
 Async APIs
 Caching (Redis)
 Optimized SQL queries
 Load balancing

One very important tip for your interview

Since your background includes SQL Server and PL/SQL, highlight this when answering:

Example line:

“In my previous projects I worked extensively with SQL Server stored procedures and query
optimization, which helped improve backend performance significantly.”

This will strengthen your backend developer profile.