Database Management System - GATE CSE Previous Year Questions Last Updated : 14 Apr, 2025 Comments Improve Suggest changes Like Article Like Report The Database Management Systems (DBMS) subject has high importance in GATE CSE exam because:large number of questions nearly 8-10% of the total papersignificant weightage (~8-10 marks) across multiple years Below is the marks distribution table: YearApprox. Marks from DBMSNumber of QuestionsDifficulty LevelGATE 20249–10 marks4–5ModerateGATE 20238.5 marks4Moderate-HardGATE 20229–10 marks4-5ModerateGATE 20218 marks3-4ModerateTopic-Wise Quizzes to Practice Previous Year's QuestionsQuestions are usually well-defined and direct from this section. It is easier to score full marks by practicing questions from PYQs and from important high-weightage topics such as SQL Queries, ER Diagram, File Structures etc. The links to quiz of these topics are given below:ER and Relational ModelsDatabase Design (Normal Forms)SQLTransaction and Concurrency ControlFile Structures (Sequential Files, Indexing, B and B+ Trees)We have selected questions of DBMS from GATE previous year questions and compiled for you. Below mentioned are the links to such sets of questions . On each page, you will get the questions asked in DBMS along with their respective years.GATE DBMS Previous Year QuestionsDatabase Management Systems | Set 1,2 Database Management Systems | Set 3Database Management Systems | Set 4Database Management Systems | Set 5Database Management Systems | Set 6Database Management Systems | Set 7Database Management Systems | Set 8Database Management Systems | Set 9Database Management Systems | Set 10GATE CSE Previous Year Question PapersThese previous year’s questions help you understand the question patterns followed by GATE that directly help a candidate in scoring good marks in GATE. Given below is the link to year-wise GATE Previous Question Papers:GATE CSE Previous Year Question PapersThese GATE CSE question papers span over 25+ years, along with their official answer keys. We’ve also provided Quiz tests to help you practice key topics, improve speed, track your progress, and build confidence for the GATE exam 2026. Comment More infoAdvertise with us Next Article Database Management System - GATE CSE Previous Year Questions kartik Follow Improve Article Tags : DBMS GATE CS MCQ Similar Reads DBMS Tutorial – Learn Database Management System Database Management System (DBMS) is a software used to manage data from a database. A database is a structured collection of data that is stored in an electronic device. The data can be text, video, image or any other format.A relational database stores data in the form of tables and a NoSQL databa 7 min read Basic of DBMSIntroduction of DBMS (Database Management System)A Database Management System (DBMS) is a software solution designed to efficiently manage, organize, and retrieve data in a structured manner. It serves as a critical component in modern computing, enabling organizations to store, manipulate, and secure their data effectively. From small application 8 min read History of DBMSThe first database management systems (DBMS) were created to handle complex data for businesses in the 1960s. These systems included Charles Bachman's Integrated Data Store (IDS) and IBM's Information Management System (IMS). Databases were first organized into tree-like structures using hierarchica 7 min read Advantages of Database Management SystemDatabase Management System (DBMS) is a collection of interrelated data and a set of software tools/programs that access, process, and manipulate data. It allows access, retrieval, and use of that data by considering appropriate security measures. The Database Management system (DBMS) is really usefu 6 min read Disadvantages of DBMSYou might have encountered bulks of files/registers either at some office/school/university. The traditional file management system has been followed for managing the information or data at many organizations and by many businesses. It used to be cost-effective and easily accessible. With evolving t 9 min read Application of DBMSThe efficient and safe management, saving and retrieval of data is made possible by the Database Management Systems. They provide strong solutions for the data management demands and are the foundation of the numerous applications used in a variety of the sectors. Recognizing the uses of DBMSs aids 5 min read Need for DBMSA DBMS is essential for efficiently storing, organizing, and managing large amounts of data. It ensures data consistency, integrity, and security while allowing multiple users to access and manipulate data simultaneously. DBMS simplifies complex data operations and supports quick retrieval, making d 7 min read DBMS Architecture 1-level, 2-Level, 3-LevelA database stores important information that must be accessed quickly and securely. To manage this data properly, it is important to choose the right database architecture. The Database Management System (DBMS) architecture decides how the database is built, organized, and maintained. It also contro 7 min read Difference between File System and DBMSA file system and a DBMS are two kinds of data management systems that are used in different capacities and possess different characteristics. A File System is a way of organizing files into groups and folders and then storing them in a storage device. It provides the media that stores data as well 6 min read Entity Relationship ModelIntroduction of ER ModelThe Entity-Relationship Model (ER Model) is a conceptual model for designing a databases. This model represents the logical structure of a database, including entities, their attributes and relationships between them. Entity: An objects that is stored as data such as Student, Course or Company.Attri 10 min read Structural Constraints of Relationships in ER ModelStructural constraints, within the context of Entity-Relationship (ER) modeling, specify and determine how the entities take part in the relationships and this gives an outline of how the interactions between the entities can be designed in a database. Two primary types of constraints are cardinalit 5 min read Difference between entity, entity set and entity typeThe Entity-Relationship (ER) Model is one of the primary components of Database Management Systems and is very important for designing the logical structure of databases. It helps define data, and the relationship between the data entities and it makes the system easier to visualize. This is the rea 6 min read Difference between Strong and Weak EntityAn entity is a “thing†or “object†in the real world. An entity contains attributes, which describe that entity. So anything about which we store information is called an entity. Entities are recorded in the database and must be distinguishable, i.e., easily recognized from the group. In this articl 3 min read Generalization, Specialization and Aggregation in ER ModelUsing the ER model for bigger data creates a lot of complexity while designing a database model, So in order to minimize the complexity Generalization, Specialization, and Aggregation were introduced in the ER model. These were used for data abstraction. In which an abstraction mechanism is used to 4 min read Recursive Relationships in ER diagramsA relationship between two entities of the same entity set is called a recursive relationship or repeated relationship. Here the same entity set participates more than once in a relationship type with a different role for each instance. Recursive relationships are often used to represent hierarchies 3 min read Relational ModelIntroduction of Relational Model and Codd Rules in DBMSThe Relational Model is a fundamental concept in Database Management Systems (DBMS) that organizes data into tables, also known as relations. This model simplifies data storage, retrieval, and management by using rows and columns. Codd’s Rules, introduced by Dr. Edgar F. Codd, define the principles 14 min read Types of Keys in Relational Model (Candidate, Super, Primary, Alternate and Foreign)In the context of a relational database, Keys are one of the basic requirements of a relational database model. keys are fundamental components that ensure data integrity, uniqueness, and efficient access. It is widely used to identify the tuples(rows) uniquely in the table. We also use keys to set 8 min read Anomalies in Relational ModelAnomalies in the relational model refer to inconsistencies or errors that can arise when working with relational databases, specifically in the context of data insertion, deletion, and modification. There are different types of anomalies that can occur in referencing and referenced relations which c 5 min read Mapping from ER Model to Relational ModelConverting an Entity-Relationship (ER) diagram to a Relational Model is a crucial step in database design. The ER model represents the conceptual structure of a database, while the Relational Model is a physical representation that can be directly implemented using a Relational Database Management S 7 min read Strategies for Schema design in DBMSThere are various strategies that are considered while designing a schema. Most of these strategies follow an incremental approach that is, they must start with some schema constructs derived from the requirements and then they incrementally modify, refine, or build on them. In this article, let's d 7 min read Relational AlgebraIntroduction of Relational Algebra in DBMSRelational Algebra is a formal language used to query and manipulate relational databases, consisting of a set of operations like selection, projection, union, and join. It provides a mathematical framework for querying databases, ensuring efficient data retrieval and manipulation. Relational algebr 9 min read Basic Operators in Relational AlgebraThe Relational Model is a way of structuring data using relations, which are a collection of tuples that have the same attributes. Relational Algebra is a procedural query language that takes relations as input and returns relations as output. It uses a set of operators to manipulate and retrieve da 4 min read Extended Operators in Relational AlgebraExtended operators in relational algebra are operators that go beyond the basic set of relational algebra operations. They are also known as derived operators because they can be constructed from combinations of the fundamental operators. There are mainly three types of extended operators in Relatio 7 min read SQL Joins (Inner, Left, Right and Full Join)SQL joins are fundamental tools for combining data from multiple tables in relational databases. Joins allow efficient data retrieval, which is essential for generating meaningful observations and solving complex business queries. Understanding SQL join types, such as INNER JOIN, LEFT JOIN, RIGHT JO 6 min read Join operation Vs Nested query in DBMSThe growth of technology and automation coupled with exponential amounts of data has led to the importance and omnipresence of databases which, simply put, are organized collections of data. Considering a naive approach, one can theoretically keep all the data in one large table, however that increa 5 min read Tuple Relational Calculus (TRC) in DBMSTuple Relational Calculus (TRC) is a non-procedural query language used in relational database management systems (RDBMS) to retrieve data from tables. TRC is based on the concept of tuples, which are ordered sets of attribute values that represent a single row or record in a database table. TRC is 4 min read Domain Relational Calculus in DBMSDomain Relational Calculus is a non-procedural query language equivalent in power to Tuple Relational Calculus. Domain Relational Calculus provides only the description of the query but it does not provide the methods to solve it. In Domain Relational Calculus, a query is expressed as, { < x1, x2 2 min read Functional DependenciesFunctional Dependency and Attribute ClosureFunctional dependency and attribute closure are essential for maintaining data integrity and building effective, organized, and normalized databases.Functional DependencyA functional dependency A->B in a relation holds if two tuples having the same value of attribute A must have the same value fo 5 min read Armstrong's Axioms in Functional Dependency in DBMSArmstrong's Axioms refer to a set of inference rules, introduced by William W. Armstrong, that are used to test the logical implication of functional dependencies. Given a set of functional dependencies F, the closure of F (denoted as F+) is the set of all functional dependencies logically implied b 4 min read Equivalence of Functional DependenciesPre-Requisite: Functional Dependency, Finding Attribute Closure, and Candidate Keys using Functional Dependency For understanding the equivalence of Functional Dependencies Sets (FD sets), the basic idea about Attribute Closure is given in this article Given a Relation with different FD sets for tha 5 min read Canonical Cover of Functional Dependencies in DBMSManaging a large set of functional dependencies can result in unnecessary computational overhead. This is where the canonical cover becomes useful. The canonical cover of a set of functional dependencies F is a simplified version of F that retains the same closure as the original set, ensuring no re 8 min read NormalisationIntroduction of Database NormalizationNormalization is an important process in database design that helps improve the database's efficiency, consistency, and accuracy. It makes it easier to manage and maintain the data and ensures that the database is adaptable to changing business needs.Database normalization is the process of organizi 8 min read Normal Forms in DBMSIn the world of database management, Normal Forms are important for ensuring that data is structured logically, reducing redundancy, and maintaining data integrity. When working with databases, especially relational databases, it is critical to follow normalization techniques that help to eliminate 8 min read First Normal Form (1NF)In relational database design, normalization is the process of organizing data to reduce redundancy and improve data integrity. First Normal Form (1NF) is the first step in this process. It ensures that the structure of a database table is organized in a way that makes it easier to manage and query. 4 min read Second Normal Form (2NF)Second Normal Form (2NF) is based on the concept of fully functional dependency. It is a way to organize a database table so that it reduces redundancy and ensures data consistency. Fully Functional Dependency means a non-key attribute depends on the entire primary key, not just part of it.For a tab 5 min read Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)While Third Normal Form (3NF) is generally sufficient for organizing relational databases, it may not completely eliminate redundancy. Redundancy can still occur if there’s a dependency X→X where X is not a candidate key. This issue is addressed by a stronger normal form known as Boyce-Codd Normal F 7 min read Introduction of 4th and 5th Normal Form in DBMSTwo of the highest levels of database normalization are the fourth normal form (4NF) and the fifth normal form (5NF). Multivalued dependencies are handled by 4NF, whereas join dependencies are handled by 5NF. If two or more independent relations are kept in a single relation or we can say multivalue 5 min read The Problem of Redundancy in DatabaseRedundancy means having multiple copies of the same data in the database. This problem arises when a database is not normalized. Suppose a table of student details attributes is: student ID, student name, college name, college rank, and course opted. Student_ID Name Contact College Course Rank 100Hi 6 min read Dependency Preserving Decomposition - DBMSIn a Database Management System (DBMS), dependency-preserving decomposition refers to the process of breaking down a complex database schema into simpler, smaller tables, such that all the functional dependencies of the original schema are still enforceable without needing to perform additional join 7 min read Lossless Decomposition in DBMSThe original relation and relation reconstructed from joining decomposed relations must contain the same number of tuples if the number is increased or decreased then it is Lossy Join decomposition. Lossless join decomposition ensures that never get the situation where spurious tuples are generated 5 min read Lossless Join and Dependency Preserving DecompositionDecomposition of a relation is done when a relation in a relational model is not in appropriate normal form. Relation R is decomposed into two or more relations if decomposition is lossless join as well as dependency preserving. Lossless Join DecompositionIf we decompose a relation R into relations 4 min read Denormalization in DatabasesDenormalization focuses on combining multiple tables to make queries execute quickly. It adds redundancies in the database though. In this article, we’ll explore Denormalization and how it impacts database design. This method can help us to avoid costly joins in a relational database made during nor 6 min read Transactions and Concurrency ControlConcurrency Control in DBMSIn a database management system (DBMS), allowing transactions to run concurrently has significant advantages, such as better system resource utilization and higher throughput. However, it is crucial that these transactions do not conflict with each other. The ultimate goal is to ensure that the data 7 min read ACID Properties in DBMSIn the world of DBMS, transactions are fundamental operations that allow us to modify and retrieve data. However, to ensure the integrity of a database, it is important that these transactions are executed in a way that maintains consistency, correctness, and reliability. This is where the ACID prop 8 min read Implementation of Locking in DBMSLocking protocols are used in database management systems as a means of concurrency control. Multiple transactions may request a lock on a data item simultaneously. Hence, we require a mechanism to manage the locking requests made by transactions. Such a mechanism is called a Lock Manager. It relies 5 min read Lock Based Concurrency Control Protocol in DBMSIn a DBMS, lock-based concurrency control is a method used to manage how multiple transactions access the same data. This protocol ensures data consistency and integrity when multiple users interact with the database simultaneously.This method uses locks to manage access to data, ensuring transactio 7 min read Graph Based Concurrency Control Protocol in DBMSIn a Database Management System (DBMS), multiple transactions often run at the same time, which can lead to conflicts when they access the same data. Graph-Based Concurrency Control Protocol helps manage these conflicts and ensures that the database remains consistent.In this protocol, transactions 4 min read Two Phase Locking ProtocolThe Two-Phase Locking (2PL) Protocol is an essential concept in database management systems used to maintain data consistency and ensure smooth operation when multiple transactions are happening simultaneously. It helps to prevent issues like data conflicts where two or more transactions try to acce 9 min read Multiple Granularity Locking in DBMSThe various Concurrency Control schemes have used different methods and every individual data item is the unit on which synchronization is performed. A certain drawback of this technique is if a transaction Ti needs to access the entire database, and a locking protocol is used, then Ti must lock eac 5 min read Polygraph to check View Serializability in DBMSIn a Database Management System (DBMS), ensuring that transactions execute correctly without conflicts is important. One way to check this is through view serializability, which ensures that a schedule produces the same final result as some serial execution of transactions.To check view serializabil 7 min read Log based Recovery in DBMSLog-based recovery in DBMS ensures data can be maintained or restored in the event of a system failure. The DBMS records every transaction on stable storage, allowing for easy data recovery when a failure occurs. For each operation performed on the database, a log file is created. Transactions are l 10 min read Timestamp based Concurrency ControlTimestamp-based concurrency control is a method used in database systems to ensure that transactions are executed safely and consistently without conflicts, even when multiple transactions are being processed simultaneously. This approach relies on timestamps to manage and coordinate the execution o 5 min read Dirty Read in SQLPre-Requisite - Types of Schedules, Transaction Isolation Levels in DBMS A Dirty Read in SQL occurs when a transaction reads data that has been modified by another transaction, but not yet committed. In other words, a transaction reads uncommitted data from another transaction, which can lead to inc 6 min read Types of Schedules in DBMSSchedule, as the name suggests, is a process of lining the transactions and executing them one by one. When there are multiple transactions that are running in a concurrent manner and the order of operation is needed to be set so that the operations do not overlap each other, Scheduling is brought i 7 min read Conflict Serializability in DBMSA schedule is a sequence in which operations (read, write, commit, abort) from multiple transactions are executed in a database. Serial or one by one execution of schedules has less resource utilization and low throughput. To improve it, two or more transactions are run concurrently. Conflict Serial 6 min read Condition of schedules to be View-equivalentIn a database system, a schedule is a sequence of operations (such as read and write operations) performed by transactions in the system. Serial or one by one execution of schedules has less resource utilization and low throughput. To improve it, two or more transactions are run concurrently. View S 6 min read Recoverability in DBMSRecoverability is a critical feature of database systems that ensures the database can return to a consistent and reliable state after a failure or error. It guarantees that the effects of committed transactions are saved permanently, while uncommitted transactions are rolled back to maintain data i 7 min read Precedence Graph for Testing Conflict Serializability in DBMSA Precedence Graph or Serialization Graph is used commonly to test the Conflict Serializability of a schedule. It is a directed Graph (V, E) consisting of a set of nodes V = {T1, T2, T3..........Tn} and a set of directed edges E = {e1, e2, e3..................em}. The graph contains one node for eac 6 min read Database Recovery Techniques in DBMSDatabase Systems like any other computer system, are subject to failures but the data stored in them must be available as and when required. When a database fails it must possess the facilities for fast recovery. It must also have atomicity i.e. either transactions are completed successfully and com 11 min read Starvation in DBMSStarvation in DBMS is a problem that happens when some processes are unable to get the resources they need because other processes keep getting priority. This can happen in situations like locking or scheduling, where some processes keep getting the resources first, leaving others waiting indefinite 8 min read Deadlock in DBMSIn database management systems (DBMS) a deadlock occurs when two or more transactions are unable to the proceed because each transaction is waiting for the other to the release locks on resources. This situation creates a cycle of the dependencies where no transaction can continue leading to the sta 10 min read Types of Schedules Based on Recoverability in DBMSIn a Database Management System (DBMS), multiple transactions often run at the same time, and their execution order is called a schedule. It is important to ensure that these schedules do not cause data loss or inconsistencies, especially if a failure occurs.A recoverable schedule allows the system 4 min read Why recovery is needed in DBMSBasically, whenever a transaction is submitted to a DBMS for execution, the operating system is responsible for making sure or to be confirmed that all the operations which need to be performed in the transaction have been completed successfully and their effect is either recorded in the database or 6 min read Indexing, B and B+ treesIndexing in Databases - Set 1Indexing is a crucial technique used in databases to optimize data retrieval operations. It improves query performance by minimizing disk I/O operations, thus reducing the time it takes to locate and access data. Essentially, indexing allows the database management system (DBMS) to locate data more 8 min read Introduction of B-TreeA B-Tree is a specialized m-way tree designed to optimize data access, especially on disk-based storage systems. In a B-Tree of order m, each node can have up to m children and m-1 keys, allowing it to efficiently manage large datasets.The value of m is decided based on disk block and key sizes.One 8 min read Insert Operation in B-TreeIn this post, we'll discuss the insert() operation in a B-Tree. A new key is always inserted into a leaf node. To insert a key k, we start from the root and traverse down the tree until we reach the appropriate leaf node. Once there, the key is added to the leaf.Unlike Binary Search Trees (BSTs), no 15+ min read Delete Operation in B-TreeA B Tree is a type of data structure commonly known as a Balanced Tree that stores multiple data items very easily. B Trees are one of the most useful data structures that provide ordered access to the data in the database. In this article, we will see the delete operation in the B-Tree. B-Trees are 15+ min read Introduction of B+ TreeB + Tree is a variation of the B-tree data structure. In a B + tree, data pointers are stored only at the leaf nodes of the tree. In this tree, structure of a leaf node differs from the structure of internal nodes. The leaf nodes have an entry for every value of the search field, along with a data p 8 min read Bitmap Indexing in DBMSBitmap Indexing is a data indexing technique used in database management systems (DBMS) to improve the performance of read-only queries that involve large datasets. It involves creating a bitmap index, which is a data structure that represents the presence or absence of data values in a table or col 8 min read Inverted IndexAn Inverted Index is a data structure used in information retrieval systems to efficiently retrieve documents or web pages containing a specific term or set of terms. In an inverted index, the index is organized by terms (words), and each term points to a list of documents or web pages that contain 7 min read Difference between Inverted Index and Forward IndexInverted Index It is a data structure that stores mapping from words to documents or set of documents i.e. directs you from word to document.Steps to build Inverted index are:Fetch the document and gather all the words.Check for each word, if it is present then add reference of document to index els 2 min read SQL Queries on Clustered and Non-Clustered IndexesIndexes in SQL play a pivotal role in enhancing database performance by enabling efficient data retrieval without scanning the entire table. The two primary types of indexes Clustered Index and Non-Clustered Index serve distinct purposes in optimizing query performance. In this article, we will expl 7 min read File organizationFile Organization in DBMS - Set 1A database consists of a huge amount of data. The data is grouped within a table in RDBMS, and each table has related records. A user can see that the data is stored in the form of tables, but in actuality, this huge amount of data is stored in physical memory in the form of files. What is a File?A 6 min read File Organization in DBMS | Set 2Pre-Requisite: Hashing Data Structure In a database management system, When we want to retrieve a particular data, It becomes very inefficient to search all the index values and reach the desired data. In this situation, Hashing technique comes into the picture. Hashing is an efficient technique to 6 min read File Organization in DBMS | Set 3B+ Tree, as the name suggests, uses a tree-like structure to store records in a File. It uses the concept of Key indexing where the primary key is used to sort the records. For each primary key, an index value is generated and mapped with the record. An index of a record is the address of the record 4 min read Like