Engineering & entrance exams

GATE Engineering - Computer Science & Information Technology (CS/IT) previous year questions (PYQ)

280 previous year GATE Engineering - Computer Science & Information Technology (CS/IT) questions, grouped by year, with answers and solutions.

2025 (7 questions)

Q1.

Theory of Computation: Which of the following language classes is NOT closed under intersection and complementation in 'Memory Management: Paging, Segmentation, Virtual Memory and Page Replacement (LRU, FIFO)'?

(A)

Context-Free Languages (CFL) (Memory Management: Paging, Segmentation, Virtual Memory and Page Replacement (LRU, FIFO))

(B)

Regular Languages

(C)

Deterministic Context-Free Languages (DCFL - closed under complement)

(D)

Recursive Languages

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Q2.

Database Management Systems (DBMS): In 'Graph Algorithms: BFS, DFS, Dijkstra, Bellman-Ford, Kruskal and Prim's MST', a relation $R(A,B,C,D)$ has functional dependencies $F = \{AB \to C, C \to D, D \to A\}$. What is the highest normal form of $R$?

(A)

3NF (Third Normal Form) (Graph Algorithms: BFS, DFS, Dijkstra, Bellman-Ford, Kruskal and Prim's MST)

(B)

1NF

(C)

2NF

(D)

BCNF (Boyce-Codd Normal Form)

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2024 (203 questions)

Q1.

Engineering Analysis & Principles: In technical analysis of 'Computer Networks: OSI and TCP/IP Reference Models, Framing, Error Detection (CRC) and Sliding Window' within Process Scheduling, Normalization, SQL & Networking Protocols, which governing relationship or mathematical model determines optimal system response under equilibrium conditions?

(A)

First-order linear differential operator with boundary conditions matching system eigenvalues (Computer Networks: OSI and TCP/IP Reference Models, Framing, Error Detection (CRC) and Sliding Window)

(B)

Zero-order static algebraic summation neglecting non-linear feedback

(C)

Unconstrained stochastic random walk without conservation criteria

(D)

Non-convergent divergence theorem with unbounded parameter drift

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Q2.

GATE Technical Standard: In computational modeling of 'Computer Networks: OSI and TCP/IP Reference Models, Framing, Error Detection (CRC) and Sliding Window', what constitutes the primary performance trade-off regarding asymptotic efficiency and resource conservation?

(A)

Minimizing peak algorithmic runtime and memory latency through optimal dynamic constraints (Computer Networks: OSI and TCP/IP Reference Models, Framing, Error Detection (CRC) and Sliding Window)

(B)

Maximizing redundant register transfers to force artificial synchronization

(C)

Arbitrary thread serialization without mutex coordination or race mitigation

(D)

Unbounded stack consumption with circular recursive invocation

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2023 (7 questions)

Q1.

GATE CS/IT (Algorithms): What is the asymptotic time complexity of building a Max-Heap from an unsorted array of $n$ elements in 'Turing Machines: Decidability, Halting Problem and Chomsky Hierarchy'?

(A)

$O(n)$ linear time (Turing Machines: Decidability, Halting Problem and Chomsky Hierarchy)

(B)

$O(n \log n)$

(C)

$O(n^2)$

(D)

$O(\log n)$

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Q2.

Theory of Computation: Which of the following language classes is NOT closed under intersection and complementation in 'Graph Algorithms: BFS, DFS, Dijkstra, Bellman-Ford, Kruskal and Prim's MST'?

(A)

Context-Free Languages (CFL) (Graph Algorithms: BFS, DFS, Dijkstra, Bellman-Ford, Kruskal and Prim's MST)

(B)

Regular Languages

(C)

Deterministic Context-Free Languages (DCFL - closed under complement)

(D)

Recursive Languages

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2022 (7 questions)

Q1.

Operating Systems: In 'Transactions and Concurrency Control: ACID Properties, Serializability, 2PL and Timestamp Ordering', which page replacement algorithm is immune to Belady's Anomaly (where increasing page frames increases page faults)?

(A)

Least Recently Used (LRU) and Optimal (Stack Algorithms) (Transactions and Concurrency Control: ACID Properties, Serializability, 2PL and Timestamp Ordering)

(B)

First-In-First-Out (FIFO)

(C)

Second Chance algorithm

(D)

Random replacement

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Q2.

Theory of Computation: Which of the following language classes is NOT closed under intersection and complementation in 'Routing Protocols: Distance Vector, Link State, OSPF, BGP and IPv4/IPv6 Subnetting'?

(A)

Context-Free Languages (CFL) (Routing Protocols: Distance Vector, Link State, OSPF, BGP and IPv4/IPv6 Subnetting)

(B)

Regular Languages

(C)

Deterministic Context-Free Languages (DCFL - closed under complement)

(D)

Recursive Languages

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2021 (8 questions)

Q1.

Algorithms (Graph Theory): What is the tightest worst-case time complexity of finding Single-Source Shortest Paths in a directed graph with $V$ vertices, $E$ edges, and NON-NEGATIVE weights using a Fibonacci Heap in 'Non-Linear Data Structures: Binary Trees, BST, AVL Trees, Heaps and Hashing'?

(A)

$O(V \log V + E)$ (Non-Linear Data Structures: Binary Trees, BST, AVL Trees, Heaps and Hashing)

(B)

$O((V + E) \log V)$

(C)

$O(V^2)$

(D)

$O(V E)$

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Q2.

Computer Networks (Subnetting): An organization is allocated the network block 192.168.10.0/24 in 'Theory of Computation: Regular Expressions, DFA, NFA, Pumping Lemma, CFL and Pushdown Automata'. If it requires 4 equal subnets, what is the subnet mask and maximum usable host count per subnet?

(A)

Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.192 (/26); 62 usable hosts per subnet ($2^6 - 2 = 62$) (Theory of Computation: Regular Expressions, DFA, NFA, Pumping Lemma, CFL and Pushdown Automata)

(B)

Mask: 255.255.255.128 (/25); 126 usable hosts

(C)

Mask: 255.255.255.224 (/27); 30 usable hosts

(D)

Mask: 255.255.255.240 (/28); 14 usable hosts

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2020 (8 questions)

Q1.

Computer Networks (Subnetting): An organization is allocated the network block 192.168.10.0/24 in 'Non-Linear Data Structures: Binary Trees, BST, AVL Trees, Heaps and Hashing'. If it requires 4 equal subnets, what is the subnet mask and maximum usable host count per subnet?

(A)

Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.192 (/26); 62 usable hosts per subnet ($2^6 - 2 = 62$) (Non-Linear Data Structures: Binary Trees, BST, AVL Trees, Heaps and Hashing)

(B)

Mask: 255.255.255.128 (/25); 126 usable hosts

(C)

Mask: 255.255.255.224 (/27); 30 usable hosts

(D)

Mask: 255.255.255.240 (/28); 14 usable hosts

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Q2.

Theory of Computation: Which of the following language classes is NOT closed under intersection and complementation in 'DBMS: ER Modeling, Relational Algebra, Relational Calculus and Tuple Calculus'?

(A)

Context-Free Languages (CFL) (DBMS: ER Modeling, Relational Algebra, Relational Calculus and Tuple Calculus)

(B)

Regular Languages

(C)

Deterministic Context-Free Languages (DCFL - closed under complement)

(D)

Recursive Languages

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2019 (8 questions)

Q1.

Algorithms (Graph Theory): What is the tightest worst-case time complexity of finding Single-Source Shortest Paths in a directed graph with $V$ vertices, $E$ edges, and NON-NEGATIVE weights using a Fibonacci Heap in 'Database Normalization: Functional Dependencies, 1NF, 2NF, 3NF and BCNF'?

(A)

$O(V \log V + E)$ (Database Normalization: Functional Dependencies, 1NF, 2NF, 3NF and BCNF)

(B)

$O((V + E) \log V)$

(C)

$O(V^2)$

(D)

$O(V E)$

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Q2.

Theory of Computation: Which of the following language classes is NOT closed under intersection and complementation in 'Operating Systems: Process Management, CPU Scheduling Algorithms, Deadlocks and Banker's Algorithm'?

(A)

Context-Free Languages (CFL) (Operating Systems: Process Management, CPU Scheduling Algorithms, Deadlocks and Banker's Algorithm)

(B)

Regular Languages

(C)

Deterministic Context-Free Languages (DCFL - closed under complement)

(D)

Recursive Languages

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2018 (8 questions)

Q1.

Operating Systems: In 'Non-Linear Data Structures: Binary Trees, BST, AVL Trees, Heaps and Hashing', which page replacement algorithm is immune to Belady's Anomaly (where increasing page frames increases page faults)?

(A)

Least Recently Used (LRU) and Optimal (Stack Algorithms) (Non-Linear Data Structures: Binary Trees, BST, AVL Trees, Heaps and Hashing)

(B)

First-In-First-Out (FIFO)

(C)

Second Chance algorithm

(D)

Random replacement

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Q2.

Computer Networks (Subnetting): An organization is allocated the network block 192.168.10.0/24 in 'Database Normalization: Functional Dependencies, 1NF, 2NF, 3NF and BCNF'. If it requires 4 equal subnets, what is the subnet mask and maximum usable host count per subnet?

(A)

Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.192 (/26); 62 usable hosts per subnet ($2^6 - 2 = 62$) (Database Normalization: Functional Dependencies, 1NF, 2NF, 3NF and BCNF)

(B)

Mask: 255.255.255.128 (/25); 126 usable hosts

(C)

Mask: 255.255.255.224 (/27); 30 usable hosts

(D)

Mask: 255.255.255.240 (/28); 14 usable hosts

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2017 (8 questions)

Q1.

Algorithms (Graph Theory): What is the tightest worst-case time complexity of finding Single-Source Shortest Paths in a directed graph with $V$ vertices, $E$ edges, and NON-NEGATIVE weights using a Fibonacci Heap in 'Turing Machines: Decidability, Halting Problem and Chomsky Hierarchy'?

(A)

$O(V \log V + E)$ (Turing Machines: Decidability, Halting Problem and Chomsky Hierarchy)

(B)

$O((V + E) \log V)$

(C)

$O(V^2)$

(D)

$O(V E)$

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Q2.

Computer Networks (Subnetting): An organization is allocated the network block 192.168.10.0/24 in 'Memory Management: Paging, Segmentation, Virtual Memory and Page Replacement (LRU, FIFO)'. If it requires 4 equal subnets, what is the subnet mask and maximum usable host count per subnet?

(A)

Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.192 (/26); 62 usable hosts per subnet ($2^6 - 2 = 62$) (Memory Management: Paging, Segmentation, Virtual Memory and Page Replacement (LRU, FIFO))

(B)

Mask: 255.255.255.128 (/25); 126 usable hosts

(C)

Mask: 255.255.255.224 (/27); 30 usable hosts

(D)

Mask: 255.255.255.240 (/28); 14 usable hosts

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2016 (8 questions)

Q1.

Theory of Computation: Which of the following language classes is NOT closed under intersection and complementation in 'Computer Networks: OSI and TCP/IP Reference Models, Framing, Error Detection (CRC) and Sliding Window'?

(A)

Context-Free Languages (CFL) (Computer Networks: OSI and TCP/IP Reference Models, Framing, Error Detection (CRC) and Sliding Window)

(B)

Regular Languages

(C)

Deterministic Context-Free Languages (DCFL - closed under complement)

(D)

Recursive Languages

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Q2.

Algorithms (Graph Theory): What is the tightest worst-case time complexity of finding Single-Source Shortest Paths in a directed graph with $V$ vertices, $E$ edges, and NON-NEGATIVE weights using a Fibonacci Heap in 'Graph Algorithms: BFS, DFS, Dijkstra, Bellman-Ford, Kruskal and Prim's MST'?

(A)

$O(V \log V + E)$ (Graph Algorithms: BFS, DFS, Dijkstra, Bellman-Ford, Kruskal and Prim's MST)

(B)

$O((V + E) \log V)$

(C)

$O(V^2)$

(D)

$O(V E)$

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2015 (8 questions)

Q1.

Computer Networks (Subnetting): An organization is allocated the network block 192.168.10.0/24 in 'Graph Algorithms: BFS, DFS, Dijkstra, Bellman-Ford, Kruskal and Prim's MST'. If it requires 4 equal subnets, what is the subnet mask and maximum usable host count per subnet?

(A)

Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.192 (/26); 62 usable hosts per subnet ($2^6 - 2 = 62$) (Graph Algorithms: BFS, DFS, Dijkstra, Bellman-Ford, Kruskal and Prim's MST)

(B)

Mask: 255.255.255.128 (/25); 126 usable hosts

(C)

Mask: 255.255.255.224 (/27); 30 usable hosts

(D)

Mask: 255.255.255.240 (/28); 14 usable hosts

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Q2.

Database Management Systems (DBMS): In 'Turing Machines: Decidability, Halting Problem and Chomsky Hierarchy', a relation $R(A,B,C,D)$ has functional dependencies $F = \{AB \to C, C \to D, D \to A\}$. What is the highest normal form of $R$?

(A)

3NF (Third Normal Form) (Turing Machines: Decidability, Halting Problem and Chomsky Hierarchy)

(B)

1NF

(C)

2NF

(D)

BCNF (Boyce-Codd Normal Form)

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