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Ola

Ola placement papers, interview questions, placement process, eligibility criteria, and complete preparation guide for 2025-2026 campus recruitment and hiring.

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, and digital innovation, serving millions of users across India and international markets.

Headquarters: Bengaluru, India
Employees: 7,000+ globally

Industry: Mobility, Technology
Revenue: $1.1+ Billion USD (2023)

Academic Requirements

Minimum Percentage: 65% or 6.5+ CGPA in 10th, 12th, and graduation

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)

Campus Recruitment

College Visits - Through placement cells at top engineering colleges

Direct registration via college coordinators

Off-Campus Drives

Ola Careers Portal - Apply online for Software Engineer and other roles

Participate in Ola Tech Hunt, hackathons, and coding contests

Online Assessment

Direct Apply - olacabs.com/careers

Register with academic details and resume

  1. Online Coding Assessment (OA) - 90-120 minutes

    Format: Conducted on platforms like HackerRank or Ola’s internal tool

    • Coding Questions: 2-3 DSA problems (arrays, trees, graphs, strings)
    • Debugging: Find and fix bugs in code
    • Passing Criteria: High accuracy and optimal solutions

    Success Rate: ~10-15% advance to interviews

  2. Technical Interviews (2-3 rounds, 45-60 min each)

    Format: Virtual or onsite

    • DSA Focus: Arrays, trees, graphs, dynamic programming
    • Coding: Write code in real-time (Java, C++, Python, Go)
    • System Design (for SDE-1/2): Design scalable systems (e.g., ride matching, payment gateway)
    • Evaluation: Problem-solving, code quality, communication
  3. Managerial/Team Fit Interview (1 round, 45 min)

    Format: Senior engineer or manager

    • Ola Values: Customer focus, innovation, ownership
    • Scenario-based: Handling ambiguity, teamwork, leadership
    • Evaluation: Technical and cultural fit
  4. HR/Offer Discussion (20-30 min)

    Format: HR Manager

    • Personal Background: Education, interests, relocation
    • Compensation: Salary, joining date, benefits
    • Company Fit: Motivation for joining Ola
PhaseDurationKey Activities
Online Assessment1 dayCoding, debugging
Technical Interviews1-2 weeksDSA, system design
Managerial/Team Fit2-3 daysOla values, teamwork
HR DiscussionSame dayOffer, negotiation
Result Declaration2-3 daysOffer letter, background check

Array Manipulation

Given an array of integers, find the maximum sum subarray (Kadane’s Algorithm).
def max_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
// int graph[V][V] = { {0, 4, 0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 8, 0},
// {4, 0, 8, 0, 0, 0, 0, 11, 0},
// {0, 8, 0, 7, 0, 4, 0, 0, 2},
// {0, 0, 7, 0, 9, 14, 0, 0, 0},
// {0, 0, 0, 9, 0, 10, 0, 0, 0},
// {0, 0, 4, 14, 10, 0, 2, 0, 0},
// {0, 0, 0, 0, 0, 2, 0, 1, 6},
// {8, 11, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 0, 7},
// {0, 0, 2, 0, 0, 0, 6, 7, 0} };
// int src = 0;
// int dest = 4;
// int V = 9;
// int dist[V];
// bool sptSet[V];
// for (int i = 0; i < V; i++)
// dist[i] = INT_MAX, sptSet[i] = false;
// dist[src] = 0;
// for (int count = 0; count < V - 1; count++) {
// int u = minDistance(dist, sptSet, V);
// sptSet[u] = true;
// for (int v = 0; v < V; v++)
// 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.

Example:

int coinChange(int coins[], int m, int amount) {
int dp[amount + 1];
dp[0] = 0;
for (int i = 1; i <= amount; i++)
dp[i] = INT_MAX;
for (int i = 1; i <= amount; i++) {
for (int j = 0; j < m; j++) {
if (coins[j] <= i) {
int sub_res = dp[i - coins[j]];
if (sub_res != INT_MAX && sub_res + 1 < dp[i])
dp[i] = sub_res + 1;
}
}
}
return dp[amount];
}
Practice More Ola Interview Questions →

DSA Fundamentals

Arrays & Strings: Manipulation, searching, sorting

Trees & Graphs: Traversals, shortest path, DFS/BFS

Dynamic Programming: Memoization, tabulation

Hashing: Hash maps, sets

System Design Basics

Mobility Architecture: Ride matching, payments, driver allocation

Database Design: SQL vs NoSQL, normalization

API Design: RESTful APIs, authentication

Scalability: Load balancing, caching, sharding

“Tell me about yourself”

  • Focus on projects, leadership, and Ola’s values

“Describe a time you worked in a team”

  • Use STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) format

DSA Mastery

Priority: Critical

Time Allocation: 50%

  • Practice LeetCode, HackerRank, Codeforces
  • Focus on arrays, trees, DP, strings
  • Solve 100+ coding problems

System Design & OOP

Priority: High

Time Allocation: 20%

  • Learn basics of system design
  • Practice OOP concepts in Java/C++/Python/Go

Ola Values

Priority: High

Time Allocation: 20%

  • Prepare STAR stories for each value
  • Practice mock interviews

Aptitude & Communication

Priority: Medium

Time Allocation: 10%

  • Practice logical reasoning
  • Improve English communication
  • Master DSA fundamentals
  • Practice 2-3 coding problems daily
  • Study Ola company values
  • Build small projects
LevelExperienceBase SalaryTotal PackageTypical Background
SDE-1New Grad₹10-16 LPA₹16-22 LPAFresh graduates, top colleges
SDE-22-4 years₹18-24 LPA₹24-30 LPA2-4 years experience
Senior SDE5-8 years₹28-40 LPA₹40-55 LPASenior developers
Lead Engineer8+ years₹55+ LPA₹70 LPA+Architects, tech leads
RoleLevelTotal PackageRequirements
QA EngineerEntry-Mid₹7-12 LPATesting, automation
Product ManagerMid-Senior₹18-35 LPAProduct sense, tech background
Data ScientistMid₹12-25 LPAML, analytics
DevOps EngineerEntry-Mid₹8-18 LPACloud, automation
  • Flexible Working: Hybrid/remote options
  • Health Insurance: Comprehensive coverage
  • Stock Grants: ESOPs for engineers and above
  • Learning & Development: Internal training, certifications
  • Work-Life Balance: Employee assistance, wellness programs
  • Career Growth: Fast-track promotions, global mobility

Hiring Trends 2025

Increased Virtual Hiring: More online assessments and interviews

System Design Emphasis: More focus in interviews

Diversity Hiring: Special drives for women and underrepresented groups

Process Changes

Online Assessments: More debugging and scenario-based questions

Team Fit Round: Mandatory for all SDE hires

Faster Offers: Reduced time from interview to offer

New Initiatives

Ola Tech Hunt: Coding competition for hiring

Student Programs: Internships, Ola Tech Internship

Internal Referrals: Employee referral program

Company Growth

Product Expansion: More engineering and data roles in India

Product Innovation: Mobility, electric vehicles, fintech

Global Mobility: Opportunities to work abroad


Ready to start your Ola preparation? Focus on DSA, system design, and Ola company values. Practice mock interviews and build strong STAR stories.

Pro Tip: Consistent practice on LeetCode and HackerRank is key. Understand Ola’s values and be ready to demonstrate them in behavioral rounds.