Top 50+ Power BI Interview Questions and Answers

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Power BI is one of the most in-demand tools for data analysis and visualization today. This guide covers 50+ commonly asked Power BI interview questions by top IT companies in India. You will also find MCQs and tips at the end to help you prepare better. 

But before we dive into the most asked Power BI interview questions, let’s quickly go through the basics.

What is Power BI?

Power BI is a business analytics tool by Microsoft that helps turn raw data into interactive reports and dashboards. It allows users to connect to various data sources and create visual insights without needing complex coding skills.

History and Origin

Power BI started as a Microsoft Excel add-in called Power Pivot in 2010. It evolved into a standalone business intelligence service and was officially released as Power BI in 2015 as part of Microsoft’s cloud-based services.

Are Power BI Jobs in Demand?

Yes. The Power BI job market is expected to grow to $33.3 billion in 2025, with a steady annual growth rate of 7.6%.

Companies need candidates with Power BI skills to turn data into useful insights for better decision-making.

According to Naukri, there are over 35,000 job openings for Power BI professionals in India. And that’s just from one job portal. You will find thousands of more high-paying Power BI jobs on dedicated IT job portals like Hirist. 

Fun Fact:

Around 3.25 lakh job postings asked for Power BI skills between 2021 and 2022.

Note:

We have organized the top 50+ Power BI interview questions into helpful categories – including basic, fresher-level, experienced, advanced, scenario-based, technical, role-specific, company-specific, other important questions, and multiple-choice questions (MCQs) – for easier preparation. 

Basic Power BI Interview Questions

Here are some basic-level Power BI interview questions and answers that are commonly asked.

1. What is Power BI? How is it used in business intelligence?

Power BI is a Microsoft tool used for data visualization and reporting. It helps turn raw data into interactive dashboards and reports that support better decision-making. Companies use it to track KPIs, spot trends, and share insights in real-time.

2. What are the main components of Power BI?

Key components include –

• Power BI Desktop
• Power BI Service (online)
• Power BI Mobile
• Power Query
• Power Pivot
• Power View

These work together to import, transform, analyze, and share data.

3. Explain the difference between Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service.

Power BI Desktop is used to build and design reports. It runs on Windows. Power BI Service is the cloud platform where reports are shared and viewed by others. Collaboration and scheduled refreshes happen here.

4. What are the different views available in Power BI Desktop?

There are three views:

• Report View: Design visual reports
• Data View: View and inspect tables
• Model View: Manage relationships between tables

5. What is a dashboard in Power BI?

A dashboard is a single-page, real-time view of visuals from one or more reports. It helps users track performance at a glance.

6. How do you connect Power BI to a data source?

Click on “Get Data” and choose the source – Excel, SQL Server, web, etc. Then load or transform it.

7. What is the use of filters in Power BI?

Filters help control what data is shown. You can filter at the visual, page, or report level. They help users focus on relevant insights without changing the actual data.

Note:

Power BI basic interview questions are commonly asked to recent graduates and entry-level professionals.

Power BI Interview Questions for Freshers

This section covers Power BI questions for interview that are commonly asked to freshers during their first job interviews.

8. What is the difference between Power Query and Power Pivot in Power BI?

Power Query is used for importing and transforming data. It helps clean and shape data before it is loaded. Power Pivot is for data modeling. It allows users to create relationships, calculations, and use DAX for deeper analysis.

9. How do you import data into Power BI from Excel?

Click on “Get Data” in Power BI Desktop, select “Excel,” then choose your file. After that, you can load the data directly or edit it in Power Query first.

10. What is DAX in Power BI and why is it used?

DAX stands for Data Analysis Expressions. It is a formula language used in Power BI to create custom calculations, measures, and columns. It works like Excel functions but is optimized for data models and reporting.

11. What are calculated columns and how do they differ from measures?

Calculated columns are added to tables and store values row by row. Measures are not stored. They calculate results based on filters and visuals. Calculated columns use more memory. Measures are better for performance.

Use calculated columns when you need row-level logic in tables (like age from DOB), and measures when you need aggregated insights (like total sales).

12. What is the role of slicers in Power BI reports?

Slicers are visual filters. They allow users to select values and see changes in related charts. They’re great for quick filtering without editing the report.

13. Can you explain the basic steps for data cleaning in Power Query?

Yes. I usually start by removing blank rows. Then I fix column names, change data types, and remove duplicates. I might also split columns or merge them depending on the data format. Power Query lets you apply all these steps in a clean, step-by-step interface without writing code.

Power BI Interview Questions for Experienced

These Power BI interview questions and answers are designed for professionals with hands-on experience in data analysis.

14. What is row-level security in Power BI and how do you implement it?

Row-level security (RLS) restricts data access for users based on roles. You define roles and DAX filters in Power BI Desktop. After publishing, assign users to roles in Power BI Service.

15. Explain the difference between SUM and SUMX in DAX.

SUM adds up a column directly. SUMX evaluates an expression for each row, then sums the result. SUMX is more flexible when calculations need logic per row.

16. How do you handle performance issues in large Power BI reports?

I try to reduce columns, limit visuals per page, and use star schema. I avoid complex DAX when possible. Aggregating data upstream helps a lot. Also, using import mode over DirectQuery improves speed.

17. What is query folding and why is it important in Power BI?

Query folding is when Power Query translates steps into a native query for the source. It improves performance by pushing transformations to the source system. If steps break folding, Power BI pulls all data locally.

18. How does bi-directional cross filtering work in Power BI data models?

It allows filters to flow both ways between tables. Useful for slicers affecting multiple related tables. But it can introduce circular dependencies or performance issues if used wrongly.

19. What are the best practices for data modeling in Power BI?

Use a star schema with dimension and fact tables. Avoid bi-directional relationships unless needed. Rename columns clearly. Reduce cardinality when possible. Always hide unnecessary columns from the report view.

Note:

Although we have already covered the commonly asked Power BI interview questions and answers for experienced professionals, here are a few more based on experience level to give you a better idea of the types of questions you may face.

Power BI Interview Questions for 2 Years Experienced

• What are the key differences between Import, DirectQuery, and Live Connection modes in Power BI? 
• How do you use CALCULATE in DAX to apply custom filters? 
• Can you describe a Power BI project you’ve worked on and your role in it? 
• How do you handle a situation where stakeholders want different versions of the same report? 
• Imagine the refresh schedule fails on a critical report. How would you approach the issue? 

Power BI Interview Questions for 3 Years Experienced

• What is the difference between a calculated table and a calculated column in Power BI? 
• How do you manage and optimize relationships in a complex data model? 
• Tell me about a time you had to improve the performance of a slow Power BI report. What did you do? 
• How do you collaborate with business users or data teams when building reports? 
• You receive conflicting requirements from two departments for the same dashboard. How would you resolve this? 

Power BI Interview Questions for 5 Years Experienced

• How do you implement and manage role-based access in Power BI Service across large teams? 
• What strategies do you use for building scalable and maintainable Power BI solutions?
• Describe a complex Power BI solution you architected. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them? 
• How do you handle situations where executives request frequent changes to published reports? 
• A client asks for a unified dashboard across multiple business units with varying KPIs. How would you approach the design? 

Advanced Power BI Interview Questions

Now, let’s cover some advanced-level Power BI interview questions and answers. These questions often appear in senior-level interviews. 

20. What is the difference between USERELATIONSHIP and CROSSFILTER in DAX?

USERELATIONSHIP activates an inactive relationship temporarily within a measure. CROSSFILTER modifies the filter direction between two tables. Both are used to control relationship behavior in calculations.

21. How do you implement a “What-If” analysis using parameters in Power BI?

Go to Modeling > New Parameter. Define the data type, range, and step. Power BI creates a slicer and calculated table. You can use selected value in DAX measures to simulate impact scenarios.

22. Explain the concept of a semantic model in Power BI and its benefits.

A semantic model is a structured data layer with defined relationships, measures, hierarchies, and metadata. It allows users to explore data without writing code. It improves reusability and consistency across reports.

23. How do you handle many-to-many relationships in Power BI?

Create a bridge table with distinct values from both tables. Link both original tables to the bridge. Use DAX functions like TREATAS or model it using composite models, depending on the complexity.

Power BI Scenario Based Interview Questions

Here are the frequently asked Power BI scenario based interview questions and answers to help you prepare for problem-solving during interviews.

24. A stakeholder wants real-time data from a SQL Server in Power BI. How would you implement it?

I would use DirectQuery mode. It lets Power BI fetch data in real time from the SQL Server without storing it in the model. I would also monitor query performance using SQL Profiler.

25. Your report loads slowly due to large data volume. What steps would you take to improve performance?

First, I would remove unused columns and reduce the data volume with filters. I would optimize DAX measures by avoiding nested iterations. Disabling auto date/time and summarizing data at source level helps too.

26. How would you set up a Power BI solution for a multi-branch company with location-specific access?

I would use Row-Level Security (RLS). First, I would create a table mapping users to branches. Then, define a DAX rule to filter data based on the user’s email. Finally, I would assign roles in Power BI Service.

Note:

Power BI scenario based interview questions for experienced professionals often include real-time challenges related to data modeling, DAX, performance tuning, and report optimization.

Power BI Technical Interview Questions

These Power BI interview questions and answers focus on the technical skills needed to work with data models and report development.

27. What is the role of the VertiPaq engine in Power BI?

VertiPaq is Power BI’s in-memory storage engine. It compresses data using columnar storage and dictionary encoding. This allows fast querying and report performance. It’s used when you import data into Power BI.

28. How does Power BI handle incremental data refresh?

Incremental refresh lets you update only new or changed data instead of reloading everything. You define a range for historical and incremental data using parameters in Power BI Desktop. After publishing, it works in the Power BI Service.

29. What is the difference between star schema and snowflake schema in Power BI data modeling?

A star schema has one fact table in the center with direct relationships to dimension tables. It is simpler and performs better. A snowflake schema has normalized dimension tables connected through multiple layers. It is more complex but can save space.

Power BI Interview Questions Based On Roles

This section includes Power BI interview questions based on different job roles like Data Analyst, BI Developer, and Power BI Admin.

Power BI Developer Interview Questions

30. How do you integrate Power BI reports into a web application or portal?

Use the Power BI JavaScript API and embed tokens. First, publish your report to Power BI Service. Then get the report ID and embed URL. Use an Azure AD app for authentication. Finally, use the API in your app’s frontend.

31. What are custom visuals in Power BI, and how do you create or import them?

Custom visuals are visuals beyond the default ones. You can import them from AppSource or build your own using TypeScript and the Power BI Visuals SDK. Once ready, package it and import the .pbiviz file into your report.

32. How do you automate Power BI report deployment across environments (dev, test, prod)?

Use deployment pipelines in Power BI Service. I define workspace stages for dev, test, and prod. Reports, datasets, and settings move between these stages. This avoids manual errors and keeps everything consistent during releases.

Note:

You might also face SQL interview questions for Power BI developer roles, such as:

• Write a query to find duplicate records in a table
• How do you join two tables in SQL?
• What is the difference between WHERE and HAVING clauses?
• Explain window functions with an example
• How do you optimize a slow SQL query?

Power BI Interview Questions for Data Analyst

33. How do you use Power BI to track KPIs and business performance over time?

I use KPIs, slicers, and time intelligence DAX functions like TOTALYTD, SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR, and DATEADD. These help show actual vs target values and trend changes over time with clear visuals.

34. What techniques do you use in Power BI to identify trends and outliers in large datasets?

I rely on line charts, scatter plots, and conditional formatting. I also use Z-score DAX logic to detect outliers. The “Analyze” feature helps explain changes in values quickly.

35. How would you explain a Power BI dashboard to a non-technical stakeholder?

I avoid jargon. I walk them through the visuals, show filters, and explain what each metric means. I focus on the impact, not the backend.

Power BI Admin Interview Questions

36. How do you manage user roles and permissions in Power BI Service?

Roles are set up in Power BI Desktop using RLS rules. After publishing, I assign users to these roles through the workspace settings in Power BI Service.

37. What is the use of an On-premises Data Gateway in Power BI administration?

It connects Power BI Service to on-premise data sources. It supports live queries and scheduled refreshes. The gateway runs in the background and must stay online.

38. How do you monitor and audit Power BI usage across your organization?

Use the Power BI Admin Portal and audit logs. It shows who accessed what, when, and how. You can also connect activity logs to Power BI for custom usage reports.

Power BI Architect Interview Questions

39. How would you design a scalable Power BI architecture for an enterprise with multiple data sources?

I use a layered approach – data source layer, ETL (via Dataflows), semantic model (shared datasets), and report layer. I keep models centralized and reusable.

40. What factors do you consider when choosing between Import, DirectQuery, and Live Connection in a solution?

I look at data size, update frequency, latency, and performance needs. For speed, I prefer Import. For real-time needs, I consider DirectQuery or Live connections to Analysis Services.

Other Important Power BI Interview Questions

This section covers other important Power BI interview questions that don’t fall into a specific category but are often asked by employers.

Power BI DAX Interview Questions

1. What is the difference between EARLIER and EARLIEST functions in DAX?
2. How do you use variables in DAX and why are they useful?
3. Explain the difference between CALCULATE and CALCULATETABLE.
4. What is the use of the VALUES function in DAX?
5. How do time intelligence functions like SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR or TOTALYTD work?

Power BI Service Interview Questions

1. How do you publish a Power BI report from Desktop to the Service?
2. What are Power BI Apps and how are they used for report sharing?
3. How do you schedule data refreshes in Power BI Service?
4. What are Workspaces in Power BI and how do they support collaboration?
5. How do you manage data security within Power BI Service for shared content?

Power Query Interview Questions

1. What is query folding in Power BI and why is it important?
2. How do you merge and append queries in Power Query?
3. What is M language and how is it used in Power Query?
4. How do you handle missing or null values during data transformation in Power Query?
5. Can you create custom columns in Power Query? Give an example.

Power BI and SQL Interview Questions

1. How do you write a SQL query to find duplicate records in a table?
2. What’s the difference between INNER JOIN and LEFT JOIN in SQL?
3. How do you optimize a slow SQL query used in Power BI reports?
4. Explain the use of window functions in SQL with a Power BI use case.
5. How do you create a parameterized SQL query inside Power BI?

Power BI and Tableau Interview Questions

1. How does Power BI differ from Tableau in terms of data modeling?
2. Which tool – Power BI or Tableau – offers better integration with SQL Server, and why?
3. How would you migrate a Tableau dashboard to Power BI?
4. In which scenarios would you prefer using Tableau over Power BI?
5. How do calculated fields in Tableau compare with DAX measures in Power BI?

Also Read - Top 50+ Tableau Interview Questions and Answers

Power BI Desktop Interview Questions

1. What are the main components of Power BI Desktop?
2. How do you create relationships between tables in Power BI Desktop?
3. What is the difference between Data view and Model view in Power BI Desktop?
4. How do you use bookmarks in Power BI Desktop?
5. What steps do you follow to publish a report from Power BI Desktop to the Power BI Service?

Data Modelling in Power BI Interview Questions

1. What is the importance of star schema in Power BI data modeling?
2. How do you resolve many-to-many relationships in a data model?
3. What are calculated tables and how do they differ from calculated columns?
4. How do inactive relationships work, and when would you use USERELATIONSHIP()?
5. What are the best practices for building an efficient data model in Power BI?

Power BI Interview Questions Asked At Top IT Companies

Let’s go through some Power BI interview questions asked at top IT companies during actual hiring rounds.

Deloitte Power BI Interview Questions

1. Can you explain a complex Power BI dashboard you have built and how it helped business users?
2. How do you handle row-level security (RLS) in large-scale Power BI deployments?
3. What steps do you take to improve performance in reports with large datasets?
4. How do you validate and test data accuracy in Power BI reports?
5. Have you used Power BI in combination with Azure services like Synapse or Data Lake?

Infosys Power BI Interview Questions

1. How do you integrate Power BI with on-premise SQL Server data?
2. What is the difference between DirectQuery and Import mode? Which one do you prefer and why?
3. How would you implement dynamic titles or visuals in a Power BI dashboard?
4. Describe a time you solved a data inconsistency issue in Power BI.
5. What DAX functions have you used for time intelligence in reporting?

EY Power BI Interview Questions

1. How do you validate the accuracy of data in Power BI reports?
2. What kind of KPIs have you created in past dashboards and how?
3. How do you manage user access for reports shared via Power BI Service?
4. What challenges have you faced when dealing with Excel data sources in Power BI?
5. Explain how you handled a scenario where the client wasn’t satisfied with the initial dashboard.

Microsoft Power BI Interview Questions

1. How do you use the Advanced Editor in Power Query?
2. What is the role of the Semantic Model in Power BI?
3. How would you compare the CALCULATE and CALCULATETABLE functions in DAX?
4. What is query folding and why is it important?
5. Can you walk us through how Power BI integrates with Azure Synapse?

TCS Power BI Interview Questions

1. What is your approach to data transformation in Power BI using Power Query?
2. How do you handle incremental data refresh in Power BI Premium?
3. What’s the difference between slicers and filters? When would you use one over the other?
4. Describe a challenging Power BI project you’ve worked on.
5. How do you use bookmarks and selection panes in interactive dashboards?

Cognizant Power BI Interview Questions

1. Explain the difference between calculated columns and measures.
2. How do you troubleshoot performance issues in a Power BI report?
3. Have you used DAX variables? Give an example where it improved clarity or performance.
4. What data gateway options are available and when do you use each?
5. Describe a report you built with multiple data sources. How did you handle data integration?

HCL Power BI Interview Questions

1. How do you apply conditional formatting in Power BI visuals?
2. What is a What-If parameter and how have you used it?
3. Can you explain how you use Power BI to tell a data story?
4. How do you structure your Power BI workspace for collaboration?
5. What are your best practices for dashboard layout and design?

Tech Mahindra Power BI Interview Questions

1. How do you design a Power BI report for mobile users?
2. What are the limitations of Power BI Free vs Power BI Pro?
3. How do you manage report versioning when working in a team?
4. Describe your experience with Power BI embedded analytics.
5. How do you approach data governance and compliance in Power BI projects?

Azure Power BI Interview Questions

1. How do you connect Power BI to Azure Data Lake?
2. What is the difference between Azure Synapse and Azure Analysis Services for Power BI?
3. How do you handle large-scale data ingestion into Power BI from Azure?
4. Explain how to schedule dataset refreshes from Azure Blob Storage.
5. How do you implement security when working with Azure and Power BI together?

Infosys Power BI Consultant Interview Questions

1. What are the key differences between Power BI Developer and Consultant roles?
2. How do you handle client requirements and translate them into technical design?
3. How do you perform UAT (User Acceptance Testing) for Power BI reports?
4. Describe your process of gathering requirements for a Power BI solution.
5. How do you balance technical feasibility and business expectations?

Wipro Power BI Interview Questions

1. What is your strategy for dealing with dirty or incomplete data in Power BI?
2. How do you create relationships between multiple tables with ambiguous keys?
3. Can you give an example of using time intelligence functions for YTD or QTD metrics?
4. How do you apply incremental load in Power BI for large datasets?
5. What is your approach to dashboard performance benchmarking?

Power BI MCQs

Test your knowledge with these Power BI questions in multiple-choice format, often seen in written or online assessments.

1. What is the default storage mode in Power BI Desktop?

A) DirectQuery
B) Import
C) Live Connection
D) Composite

Answer: B) Import

2. Which DAX function is used to return the current date?

A) TODAY()
B) NOW()
C) DATE()
D) CURRENTDATE()

Answer: A) TODAY()

3. What does RLS stand for in Power BI?

A) Report Log Security
B) Row-Level Security
C) Role List Services
D) Role-Level Settings

Answer: B) Row-Level Security

4. Which Power BI component is used for data transformation?

A) Power Pivot
B) Power Query
C) Power View
D) Power Map

Answer: B) Power Query

5. What chart type is best suited to show proportions?

A) Line Chart
B) Pie Chart
C) Column Chart
D) Scatter Chart

Answer: B) Pie Chart

6. What type of relationship is typically created between tables in Power BI?

A) Left Join
B) Inner Join
C) Full Outer Join
D) One-to-Many

Answer: D) One-to-Many

7. Which language is used for writing custom calculations in Power BI?

A) SQL
B) Python
C) DAX
D) R

Answer: C) DAX

Tips to Prepare for Power BI Interview

Most Power BI interviews test your practical skills, not your theoretical knowledge. So, here are some tips to ace your interview –

• Build dashboards from scratch using Power BI Desktop and public datasets
• Practice writing DAX for KPIs, running totals, and conditional logic
• Understand when to use Import, DirectQuery, or Live connections
• Learn to set up row-level security in reports
• Go through recent Power BI interview questions and answers shared by hiring managers
• Always explain the business value behind your Power BI projects

Wrapping Up

So, these are the 50+ most asked Power BI interview questions and answers to help you feel more confident during your next interview. Practice them well and focus on explaining real projects.

Looking for Power BI jobs?

Head over to Hirist to find the top IT job openings, including roles for Power BI developers, analysts, and consultants.

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