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The 2021 Cisco Ideathon account describes a multi-stage selection process: an online quiz, a 90-second video, a technical assessment, and technical, managerial and HR interviews. The questions and selection figures below come from one candidate’s experience applying for a Consulting Engineer / Customer Experience internship; they are not a guaranteed format or question list for every role or year.
Who was eligible in the 2021 cycle?
The GeeksforGeeks candidate account says the internship was aimed at final-year students graduating in 2022. Applicants needed to meet the stated academic and availability requirements and complete an eligible Cisco Networking Academy course pathway. Cisco’s official 2021 contest rules corroborate a CGPA of at least 7, no current backlogs, and availability for a six-month full-time internship in Bangalore from January through June 2022.
The candidate account lists these NetAcad course routes:
- CCNA Module 1 plus Python
- Networking Essentials plus Python
- DevNet
The official rules also include CyberOps Associate or Cybersecurity Essentials together with Networking Essentials and Python as an eligible route. The candidate account says applicants needed to attend a Cisco Networking Academy-affiliated college. These are historical requirements, not current eligibility guidance.
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What were the selection stages?
The candidate describes the following sequence. Details reflect that participant’s 2021 experience, not a universal Cisco process.
- Eligibility screening: Applicants first had to meet the cycle’s academic, course, and internship-availability requirements.
- Preliminary online quiz: A 60-minute mandatory section covered computer fundamentals, programming multiple-choice questions, and aptitude. A separate 30-minute advanced section let candidates choose networking or software programming.
- Video submission: Shortlisted candidates chose one of two prompts and submitted a 90-second video explaining a solution.
- Online technical assessment: The account describes a 60-minute test with advanced aptitude multiple-choice questions, computer fundamentals, and one or two medium-to-hard programming problems.
- Interviews: The candidate reports technical, managerial, and HR rounds over two days.
What came up in the preliminary quiz?
The candidate chose the advanced networking track and recalls CCNA and networking questions. Their preparation list included computer networks, data structures and algorithms (DSA), operating systems (OS), object-oriented programming (OOP), databases (DBMS), and aptitude. The account does not provide an exact quiz question set, so these topics are best treated as reported preparation areas rather than a guaranteed syllabus.
The choice was between advanced networking and advanced software programming. The candidate chose networking because they felt less confident in DSA; that was a personal choice, not a general recommendation. For a similar assessment, weigh your strongest foundation against the role you want and the technical topics you can explain under follow-up questions.
What were the 90-second video prompts?
Shortlisted candidates received two problem statements, selected one, researched it, and presented a solution in a 90-second video:
- Customer experience: Use data science to predict customer experience or sentiment proactively, beyond reactive surveys, while considering factors that affect the customer’s experience.
- Vehicle sensors and carbon footprint: Use possible future-car sensor data to help reduce emissions, with examples including carbon tax, carpool detection and matching, or traffic rerouting.
The candidate recommends researching the chosen problem, organizing a concise presentation, using evidence, and speaking clearly. Cisco’s official 2021 rules say judges assessed “Approach to problem solving,” “Innovative solution,” “Feasibility of Solution,” and “Articulation skills.” These are the published contest criteria, not a reported interview rubric.
What was in the technical assessment?
The candidate describes a 60-minute online assessment combining advanced aptitude multiple-choice questions, computer fundamentals, and one or two medium-to-hard programming questions. Candidates stated their job-role preferences before the test. The account lists Software Engineer – Internal Applications, Consulting Engineer – CX, Business Analyst, Technical Systems Engineer, and Site Reliability Engineer, and says role allocation followed assessment performance.
That assessment description belongs to this candidate’s cycle and account. It should not be taken as a current test specification or a promise that every applicant received the same questions or role options.
What happened in the interviews?
The candidate reports three interview rounds—technical, managerial, and HR—held over two days. Candidates joined a Webex space for communications.
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Technical interview
Topics included general programming and coding, networking and CCNA concepts, resume content, and projects. Be ready to explain the choices behind each project and respond to follow-up questions about what you personally built or decided.
Managerial interview
This round mixed technical fundamentals with situational questions, project discussion, and questions about college activities. The account suggests that explaining your reasoning matters alongside recalling technical concepts.
HR interview
The candidate says HR discussed the job role and offer details and assessed confidence, communication, and responses to situations. Discussing compensation or offer details did not, in the candidate’s account, guarantee selection.
How many candidates advanced?
The GeeksforGeeks account, last updated 27 June 2022, reports these pan-India counts:
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems| Stage described | Candidate-reported count |
|---|---|
| First round | 15,300 students shortlisted |
| Next round | 4,048 students shortlisted |
| Final interview rounds | 607 students shortlisted |
These are figures from a first-person participant account, not independently confirmed Cisco statistics. Cisco’s official 2021 rules do not state cohort counts.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How should candidates prepare?
For the 2021 process described here, the candidate’s advice points to broad fundamentals, role fit, and the ability to explain your own work clearly. A focused preparation plan is:
- Refresh fundamentals: Review aptitude, programming, DSA, OS, OOP, DBMS, and computer networks. Give extra time to the advanced track you expect to choose.
- Match preparation to the role: Consider the role’s technical emphasis and your strongest subject area when deciding between networking and software programming.
- Know your resume: Be prepared to explain every project, tool, and claim, including why you made key decisions and what you would change.
- Practice concise explanations: For the video prompt and interviews, state the problem, explain your reasoning, and make the proposed solution understandable. If you are unsure, communicate how you would work through the question.
The candidate reports networking and CCNA questions, and Cisco’s current page describes CCNA-level preparation; a CCNA study guide can be a broader optional study resource, not a Cisco-endorsed interview guide.
How does the current India Ideathon differ?
Cisco’s current India Ideathon page, accessed 8 October 2026, describes a different format from the 2021 account. It identifies the internship period as January–June 2027, so its details are current-cycle information rather than a continuation of the 2021 process.
| Aspect | 2021 candidate account | Current Cisco India page (accessed 8 October 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Assessment and idea stage | 60-minute mandatory quiz, 30-minute advanced track, then a 90-second video | Phase 1 online MCQ and coding assessment lasting 90 minutes; shortlisted candidates receive problem statements and one week to prepare a PowerPoint presentation for discussion at interview |
| Preparation emphasis | Candidate reports computer fundamentals, aptitude, and a choice of advanced networking or software programming | Page says preparation is mainly CCNA-level questions, with an open-book component on current industry advancements |
| Eligibility detail | Candidate and official rules report CGPA 7 or above, no current backlogs, and six-month internship availability in Bangalore from January to June 2022 | Page gives a 6 CGPA threshold and individual registration through affiliated colleges |
| Internship locations | Bangalore in the 2021 rules | Bangalore, Chennai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Pune |
| Potential outcome | Six-month full-time internship described for the 2021 cycle | Page says selected candidates may receive a full-time offer or a dual internship plus pre-placement offer |
Applicants should confirm the live page’s dates and eligibility before applying; the 2021 requirements and round structure should not be reused as current instructions.
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