Ola Placement Papers 2025 - DSA Questions, System Design & Interview Process
Ola Placement Papers 2025 - DSA Questions, System Design & Interview Process
Download free Ola placement papers 2025 with coding questions and solutions. Access DSA problems, system design, interview process, eligibility, salary, and complete preparation guide for 2025-2026 campus recruitment.
Ola (ANI Technologies Pvt. Ltd.) is India’s leading mobility platform and one of the world’s largest ride-hailing companies. Founded in 2010 by Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati, Ola is known for its technology-driven transportation, electric mobility, AI-powered services including Kruti multilingual AI agent, and digital innovation, serving millions of users across India and international markets.
Headquarters: Bengaluru, India Employees: 7,000+ globally
Degree: B.E./B.Tech/M.E./M.Tech/MCA in Computer Science, IT, ECE, EE, or related fields
Year of Study: Final year students and recent graduates (within 1 year)
Backlogs: No active backlogs at the time of selection
Branch Eligibility
Eligible Branches: CS, IT, ECE, EE, and related engineering streams
Programming Focus: Strong skills in Data Structures, Algorithms, and System Design
Experience: Freshers and up to 2 years experience (for entry-level SDE roles)
Additional Criteria
Coding Skills: Proficiency in at least one language (Java, C++, Python, Go)
Gap Years: Maximum 1 year gap allowed
Course Type: Full-time degrees only
Nationality: Indian citizens (for India roles)
SDE-1 Role
Primary Role: Software Development Engineer - 1 (Entry-level)
Salary Package: ₹16-22 LPA for freshers
Selection: Through Online Assessment (OA) and Technical Interviews
Test Validity: OA scores valid for current hiring cycle
Is 6.5 CGPA Good for Ola?
Yes, 6.5 CGPA (65%) is the minimum requirement for Ola. However, candidates with higher CGPA (7.5+ or 75%+) have better chances of selection. Strong coding skills, DSA knowledge, and system design understanding are equally important and can compensate for lower CGPA.
Ola CGPA Cutoff
Minimum: 6.5 CGPA (65%)
Average Selected: 7.5-8.0 CGPA (75-80%)
For Premium Roles: 8.0+ CGPA (80%+) preferred
Ola Placement Papers - Download Previous Year Papers PDF
Download free Ola placement papers 2025 with previous year questions, detailed solutions, exam pattern, and complete preparation guide. Access Ola last 5 years placement papers with solutions PDF download and practice with solved questions covering all sections.
Ola Last 5 Years Placement Papers with Solutions PDF Download
The Ola Online Assessment (OA) is the first screening round that evaluates candidates’ coding skills, problem-solving abilities, and technical knowledge.
Online Coding Assessment (OA) - 90-120 minutes
Total Questions: 2-3 coding problems
Total Marks: Variable (based on test cases passed)
Negative Marking: No negative marking
Platform: HackerRank or Ola’s internal tool
Ola, as a leading transportation company, has integrated agentic AI systems into its platform to improve user experience, optimize operations, and enhance customer service. The most notable example is Kruti, Ola’s multilingual AI agent designed to perform real-world tasks like booking taxis, ordering food, and providing customer support.
Ola Engineering Blog: Insights into Ola’s AI and agentic system development
AI Agent Evaluation Platforms: Tools like Openlayer for testing agentic systems
Research Papers: Academic papers on autonomous agents and multi-agent systems
System Design Resources: Learn about designing scalable agentic architectures
Key Takeaway: When evaluating the transportation company Ola on agentic-test, focus on reliability, security, user experience, and business impact. Ola’s investment in AI agents like Kruti demonstrates its commitment to leveraging autonomous systems for improved transportation services.
Given an array of integers, find the maximum sum subarray (Kadane’s Algorithm).
defmax_subarray_sum(arr):
max_sum =float('-inf')
current_sum =0
for num in arr:
current_sum += num
if current_sum > max_sum:
max_sum = current_sum
if current_sum <0:
current_sum =0
return max_sum
Graph Traversal
Given a graph, find the shortest path between two nodes.
This problem is a classic example of finding the shortest path in a graph using algorithms like Dijkstra’s or Breadth-First Search (BFS). The problem statement typically involves a graph represented by an adjacency matrix or list, and two nodes (source and destination). The goal is to find the minimum number of edges or the minimum sum of weights from the source to the destination.
Example:
// Assuming a graph is represented using an adjacency matrix
// if (!sptSet[v] && graph[u][v] && dist[u] != INT_MAX
// && dist[u] + graph[u][v] < dist[v])
// dist[v] = dist[u] + graph[u][v];
// }
// cout << "Shortest distance from " << src << " to " << dest << " is " << dist[dest];
Dynamic Programming
Given a set of coins, find the minimum number of coins to make a given amount.
This problem is a classic example of the Coin Change Problem, which is a variation of the Knapsack Problem. The goal is to find the minimum number of coins needed to make a given amount using a set of coin denominations. This problem can be solved using Dynamic Programming (DP) with a bottom-up approach.
Experience: The OA was conducted on HackerRank with 3 coding problems:
Array Problem: Find maximum sum subarray (Kadane’s algorithm variant)
Tree Problem: Find lowest common ancestor in a binary tree
Graph Problem: Shortest path in a weighted graph (Dijkstra’s algorithm)
Time Allocated: 120 minutes
Approach: I solved all 3 problems correctly, focusing on optimal time complexity. The debugging section had 2 questions where I had to identify and fix bugs in provided code.
Result: Cleared OA, advanced to technical interviews
Round 2 - Technical Interview 1 (60 minutes)
Questions Asked:
Started with “Tell me about yourself” and project discussion
Coding Problem: Design a data structure to support insert, delete, and getRandom in O(1) time
Follow-up: Optimize for space complexity
System Design: Design a ride matching system for Ola
Approach:
Explained my approach clearly before coding
Used HashMap + ArrayList for the data structure problem
Discussed trade-offs and edge cases
For system design, covered scalability, load balancing, database design, real-time matching
Result: Positive feedback, advanced to next round
Round 3 - Technical Interview 2 (45 minutes)
Questions Asked:
Coding Problem: Implement LRU Cache with O(1) operations
Algorithm Discussion: Explain Dijkstra’s algorithm and when to use it
System Design: Design a payment gateway with transaction safety
Project Deep Dive: Detailed discussion on my internship project
Approach:
Implemented LRU using HashMap + Doubly Linked List
Explained algorithm complexity and use cases
Discussed ACID properties, idempotency, retry mechanisms for payment system
Walked through project architecture and design decisions
Result: Strong performance, advanced to managerial round
Round 4 - Managerial/Team Fit Interview (45 minutes)
Questions Asked:
Ola Values: “Describe a time you demonstrated ownership”
Scenario: “How would you handle a production issue at 2 AM?”
Teamwork: “Describe a conflict you resolved in a team”
Technical Discussion: Architecture decisions, trade-offs in system design
Approach:
Used STAR format for behavioral questions
Emphasized customer focus and ownership
Discussed on-call responsibilities and incident management
Showed alignment with Ola’s values
Result: Cultural fit confirmed, advanced to HR round
Round 5 - HR Interview (30 minutes)
Questions Asked:
Personal background and education
“Why Ola?”
Salary expectations
Joining date and relocation
Questions about Ola’s culture and growth
Result: Selected - Received offer for SDE-1 role with ₹18 LPA package
Tips:
Strong DSA preparation is crucial
Practice system design problems relevant to mobility tech
Be ready to discuss Ola’s business model and technology
Ola placement papers are previous year question papers from Ola recruitment tests and interview rounds. These papers help students understand the exam pattern and prepare effectively.
Are Ola placement papers free to download?
Yes, all Ola placement papers on our website are completely free to access and download. You can practice unlimited questions without any registration or payment.
How recent are the Ola placement papers available?
We provide Ola placement papers from recent years including 2024 and 2025. Our collection is regularly updated with the latest questions and exam patterns.
Ola placement process typically includes online assessment, technical interview, and HR interview rounds. See the placement process section for complete details.
How many rounds are there in Ola interview?
Ola interview process typically consists of 2-3 rounds: online test, technical interview, and HR interview. Some roles may have additional rounds.
Ola eligibility criteria for freshers include minimum percentage requirements, degree requirements, and other criteria. Check the eligibility section for detailed information.
What is the minimum CGPA required for Ola?
The minimum CGPA required varies by role. Check the eligibility criteria section for specific requirements.
Ola salary for freshers (2025-2026): SDE-1: ₹16-22 LPA (entry-level, fresh graduates from top colleges), SDE-2: ₹24-30 LPA (2-4 years experience), Senior SDE: ₹40-55 LPA (5-8 years), Lead Engineer: ₹70 LPA+ (8+ years). Other roles: QA Engineer (₹7-12 LPA), Product Manager (₹18-35 LPA), Data Scientist (₹12-25 LPA), DevOps Engineer (₹8-18 LPA). All figures are total annual compensation including base salary, performance bonuses, stock options (ESOPs), and benefits.
What is Ola SDE-1 role?
Ola SDE-1 (Software Development Engineer - 1) is the primary entry-level role for freshers: Role: Software Development Engineer - 1 (Entry-level position), Salary Package: ₹16-22 LPA for freshers, Selection: Through Online Assessment (OA) and Technical Interviews, Responsibilities: Backend/frontend development, system design, API development, working on ride matching, payment systems, or AI agents like Kruti, Growth Path: SDE-1 → SDE-2 → Senior SDE → Lead Engineer, Skills Required: Strong DSA, system design basics, proficiency in Java/C++/Python/Go.
What are the benefits of working at Ola?
Ola offers comprehensive benefits: Flexible Working (hybrid/remote options), Health Insurance (comprehensive coverage for employee and family), Stock Grants (ESOPs for engineers and above), Learning & Development (internal training, certifications, conference attendance), Work-Life Balance (employee assistance programs, wellness programs), Career Growth (fast-track promotions, global mobility opportunities), Free Rides (discounted or free Ola rides), Food & Snacks (free meals, snacks at office), Modern Office (state-of-the-art facilities in Bengaluru, Mumbai, Delhi).
To prepare for Ola placement: 1. Understand eligibility criteria (6.5+ CGPA, no backlogs), 2. Study exam pattern (OA with DSA problems, technical interviews, system design), 3. Practice previous year Ola placement papers with solutions, 4. Master DSA fundamentals (arrays, trees, graphs, DP) - solve 100+ problems on LeetCode/HackerRank, 5. Learn system design basics (ride matching, payment systems, scalability), 6. Prepare for technical interviews (coding, algorithms, projects), 7. Prepare for behavioral rounds (Ola values: customer focus, innovation, ownership), 8. Take mock tests to improve time management. See the preparation strategy section for detailed guidance.
What topics should I focus on for Ola?
Focus on: DSA Fundamentals (arrays, trees, graphs, dynamic programming, string manipulation) - 50% of preparation time, System Design (scalability, load balancing, caching, database design, API design) - 20% of preparation time, Coding Practice (solve 100+ problems on LeetCode, HackerRank, Codeforces) - critical, Ola Values & Behavioral (customer focus, innovation, ownership, STAR stories) - 20% of preparation time, Core CS Subjects (OOPs, DBMS, OS, Networking) - 10% of preparation time. See the preparation strategy section for detailed topic breakdown.
How many Ola placement papers should I practice?
Practice at least 5-10 Ola placement papers from previous years (2020-2025). Focus on: Solving all coding problems with optimal solutions, Understanding question patterns and difficulty levels, Time management (solve problems within time limits), Reviewing solutions and learning different approaches, Practicing debugging questions. Additionally, solve 100+ problems on LeetCode/HackerRank covering arrays, trees, graphs, DP, and system design.
Is Ola placement easy or difficult?
Ola placement is considered moderately difficult to difficult: Online Assessment: Medium-Hard difficulty, requires solving 2-3 DSA problems optimally, Technical Interviews: Challenging, focus on system design and scalability, Success Rate: ~10-15% of candidates advance from OA to interviews, Competition: High, especially for SDE-1 roles from top colleges. However, with proper preparation (strong DSA, system design, coding practice), it is achievable. Focus on solving 100+ coding problems and understanding system design principles.
Reasons to join Ola: Innovation & Technology (work on cutting-edge AI agents like Kruti, ride matching algorithms, payment systems), Scale & Impact (serve millions of users, solve real-world transportation problems), Growth Opportunities (fast-track career growth, work on diverse projects), Learning & Development (exposure to distributed systems, AI/ML, scalability challenges), Competitive Compensation (₹16-22 LPA for freshers, ESOPs, comprehensive benefits), Modern Tech Stack (work with latest technologies, microservices, cloud infrastructure), Electric Mobility (contribute to sustainable transportation solutions), Startup Culture (fast-paced, ownership, innovation).
Are Ola placements only for CS/IT students?
Ola primarily hires from CS, IT, ECE, and EE branches for technical roles. However: Eligible Branches: CS, IT, ECE, EE, and related engineering streams, Strong DSA and system design skills are essential regardless of branch, Some roles (Product Manager, Data Scientist) may accept candidates from other backgrounds with relevant skills, Focus on demonstrating strong coding and problem-solving abilities.
Do I need to relocate for Ola?
Ola has offices in multiple Indian cities: Primary Locations: Bengaluru (headquarters), Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Other Locations: Chennai, Pune, Kolkata, Relocation: May be required depending on team and role, Hybrid/Remote: Ola offers flexible working options (hybrid/remote) for many roles, Discuss relocation preferences during HR interview. Most engineering roles are based in Bengaluru.
Ola vs Uber vs Zomato - Which is better for freshers?
Ola: Indian company, strong in AI agents (Kruti), electric mobility focus, ₹16-22 LPA for SDE-1, good growth opportunities, strong in ride-hailing and food delivery. Uber: Global company, strong brand, ₹18-25 LPA for SDE-1, excellent learning opportunities, global mobility options. Zomato: Food delivery focus, ₹15-20 LPA for SDE-1, strong in logistics and delivery optimization, good work culture. Recommendation: Choose based on your interests - Ola for AI/mobility tech, Uber for global exposure, Zomato for food tech. All offer competitive packages and good learning opportunities.
Is Ola better than service-based companies?
Ola (Product-Based): Higher salary (₹16-22 LPA vs ₹3-6 LPA), better learning (work on real products, system design), faster growth, ownership and impact, challenging work. Service-Based (TCS, Infosys, Wipro): Lower salary (₹3-6 LPA), slower growth, less ownership, more stable, training programs. Recommendation: If you want higher salary, faster growth, and product experience, Ola is better. If you prefer stability and training, service-based companies may suit you. However, Ola offers better career prospects for ambitious engineers.