FYUG Even Semester Exam, 2025
COMPUTER SCIENCE: CSCDSM-252
(Database Management System)

Subject: Computer Science

Course No: CSCDSM-252

Semester: 4th Semester

Year: 2025

Programme: FYUG


UNIT—I

Question 1 (a) 2 Marks

What do you mean by database management system?

A Database Management System (DBMS) is software designed to store, retrieve, and manage data in a database. It acts as an interface between users and the data, ensuring security, integrity, and efficient data handling.

Question 1 (b) 2 Marks

What are schemas and instances?

  • Schema: The overall design or logical structure of the database is called the schema. It is static and defined during database creation.
  • Instance: The collection of information stored in the database at a particular moment is called an instance. It changes whenever data is inserted or deleted.

Question 1 (c) 2 Marks

Differentiate between logical data independence and physical data independence.

Feature Logical Data Independence Physical Data Independence
Definition Ability to change the conceptual schema without affecting external views. Ability to change the physical schema without affecting the conceptual schema.
Level Occurs at the User-Conceptual mapping level. Occurs at the Conceptual-Internal mapping level.
Complexity More difficult to achieve. Easier to achieve.

Question 2 (a) 10 Marks

(i) Explain the architecture of DBMS.

The standard architecture for a DBMS is the Three-Schema Architecture, which separates the physical database from user applications:

  • External Level (View Level): Describes only the part of the database relevant to specific users.
  • Conceptual Level (Logical Level): Describes what data is stored in the database and what relationships exist among those data.
  • Internal Level (Physical Level): Describes how the data is actually stored on the storage media.

(ii) Write about the different data models used in DBMS.

  • Relational Model: Represents data as tables (relations) with rows and columns.
  • Entity-Relationship (ER) Model: Uses entities, attributes, and relationships to represent the real world.
  • Hierarchical Model: Organizes data in a tree-like structure with parent-child relationships.
  • Network Model: Similar to hierarchical but allows child nodes to have multiple parents.
  • Object-Oriented Model: Represents data as objects, similar to OOP concepts.

Question 2 (b) 10 Marks

(i) Write down the advantages of DBMS.

  • Controlled Redundancy: Minimizes duplicate data storage.
  • Data Sharing: Allows multiple users to access data simultaneously.
  • Data Consistency: Ensures all users see the same accurate data.
  • Improved Security: Restricts unauthorized access through permissions.
  • Backup and Recovery: Provides mechanisms to restore data after failures.

(ii) What are the different types of relationship? Explain.

  • One-to-One (1:1): An entity in A is associated with exactly one entity in B.
  • One-to-Many (1:N): An entity in A is associated with any number of entities in B.
  • Many-to-One (N:1): Multiple entities in A are associated with one entity in B.
  • Many-to-Many (M:N): Multiple entities in A are associated with multiple entities in B.

UNIT—II

Question 3 (b) 2 Marks

What are DDL and DML?

  • DDL (Data Definition Language): Used to define database structures like tables (e.g., CREATE, ALTER, DROP).
  • DML (Data Manipulation Language): Used to access and manipulate the data (e.g., SELECT, INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE).

Question 4 (a) 10 Marks

Explain different relational algebra operations used in DBMS.

  • Select (σ): Extracts rows that satisfy a given predicate.
  • Project (π): Selects specific columns from a table.
  • Union (∪): Combines all tuples from two compatible relations.
  • Set Difference (−): Tuples in one relation but not in the other.
  • Cartesian Product (X): Combines every tuple of one relation with every tuple of another.
  • Join (⋈): Combines related tuples based on a common attribute.

UNIT—III

Question 6 (b) 10 Marks

What is normalization? Explain different normal forms. Differentiate between 3NF and BCNF.

Normalization: The process of organizing data in a database to reduce redundancy and avoid anomalies.

  • 1NF: Eliminates multi-valued attributes; values must be atomic.
  • 2NF: In 1NF + eliminates partial functional dependency.
  • 3NF: In 2NF + eliminates transitive dependency.

3NF vs BCNF: A table is in 3NF if for every FD X → A, X is a superkey or A is a prime attribute. BCNF is stricter: for every FD X → A, X must be a superkey.

UNIT—IV

Question 8 (b) 10 Marks

(i) Explain ACID properties of transaction.

  • Atomicity: The entire transaction happens at once or not at all.
  • Consistency: Database must remain in a consistent state before and after the transaction.
  • Isolation: Transactions run independently without interference.
  • Durability: Changes are permanent once the transaction is committed.

UNIT—V

Question 10 (b) 10 Marks

What is indexing? Explain different types of indices with example of each.

Indexing: A data structure technique to quickly locate and access data in a database.

  • Primary Index: Defined on an ordered data file (e.g., Index on StudentID in a sorted list).
  • Clustering Index: Defined on an ordered data file on a non-key field.
  • Secondary Index: Defined on fields that are not the search key of the primary index.