Discover the best books for UGC NET Law Paper 2 with our quick guide. Top picks for IFAS, Arihant guides, subject-wise recommendations, and budget-smart buying strategies. This article is written by Urvi Shah, Senior Associate at LawSikho.

Open any UGC NET Law preparation group, and you’ll see the same question asked a hundred different ways: “Which books should I buy?” 

The answers? Overwhelming. Someone recommends 15 textbooks. Another person swears by just previous year questions.

 A third suggests expensive coaching material. And there you are, more confused than when you started.

Here’s what most book recommendation lists won’t tell you: buying more books doesn’t equal better preparation. In fact, the opposite is often true. 

The most successful NET qualifiers typically use 4 to 6 well chosen books that they read thoroughly, rather than 20 half finished ones gathering dust.

This guide cuts through the confusion. No lengthy analysis of 30 different publishers. 

Just straight answers to the questions that actually matter: Which specific books should you buy this week? How much will they cost? And how do you use them effectively to clear Paper II?

Whether you have a ₹1,500 budget or ₹5,000 to spend, whether you’re starting preparation today or revising in your final month, you’ll find exactly what you need to know, no fluff, no filler, just actionable book recommendations that work.

Let’s get started.

Essential Books Every UGC NET Law Aspirant Needs

The Two Categories of Books You Must Have

Standard Law Textbooks for Conceptual Foundation

Think of standard law textbooks as your foundation builders. These are the books authored by legal scholars like M.P. Jain, K.D. Gaur, and Avtar Singh that you probably encountered during your law degree. 

They explain the “why” behind legal principles, help you understand how different concepts connect, and prepare you for those tricky MCQs that test application rather than mere recall.

Here is the catch though: standard textbooks were written for law students, not competitive exam aspirants. They contain way more detail than UGC NET requires, they do not have MCQ practice sections, and they certainly do not tell you which topics appear most frequently in the exam. 

So use them strategically for high weightage subjects, but do not try to read them cover to cover.

UGC NET Specific Guides for Exam Oriented Preparation

NET specific guides from publishers like IFAS Publications and Arihant are built specifically for exam success. They condense the 10 unit syllabus into digestible content, provide thousands of MCQs for practice, and include previous year questions with explanations. 

These books train your brain to think in MCQ format, which is a skill that standard textbooks simply cannot teach you.

Top 5 Must Buy Books for Paper II

Your core book collection should include these five resources that together cover both depth and breadth. 

• First, get IFAS Publications’ UGC NET Law Paper II PYQ book (₹400 to 500), which contains 12 plus years of previous questions sorted unit wise. 
• Second, pick up Arihant’s NTA UGC NET Law Study Guide (₹550 to 775) for comprehensive theory and 4000 MCQs. 
• Third, add M.P. Jain’s or V.N. Shukla’s Constitutional Law book for the highest weightage unit.
• Fourth, include K.D. Gaur’s Indian Penal Code textbook for Criminal Law, which is another heavily tested area. 
• Fifth, keep Avtar Singh’s Contract Law book handy for Commercial Law concepts. 

This five book combination gives you everything you need: PYQ practice, exam focused content, and conceptual depth for the three most important units. You can add more books later if time permits, but these five will carry you through.

Subject Wise Book Recommendations for Key Units

Books for High Weightage Units (Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Criminal Law)

Constitutional and Administrative Law (Unit II) carries the maximum weightage, so invest in a solid textbook here. V.N. Shukla’s “Constitution of India” offers exam friendly coverage without being overwhelming, while M.P. Jain’s book provides more depth if you have time. 

For Administrative Law specifically, I.P. Massey’s textbook covers principles of natural justice and judicial review comprehensively. Pay special attention to landmark judgments and constitutional amendments, as these appear frequently in MCQs.

Jurisprudence (Unit I) tests your understanding of legal philosophy and different schools of thought. Dr. B.N. Mani Tripathi’s “Jurisprudence: Legal Theory” explains complex concepts in accessible language. 

For Criminal Law (Unit IV), K.D. Gaur’s IPC textbook remains the standard choice, but remember to also study the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita provisions since the law has changed. Your NET guide should cover BNS basics, but check the Ministry of Home Affairs website for the official text.

Books for Medium Weightage Units (Torts, Commercial Law, Family Law)

For Torts and Consumer Protection (Unit V), R.K. Bangia’s “Law of Torts” provides concise coverage of negligence, nuisance, defamation, and strict liability principles. 

The Consumer Protection Act, 2019 provisions are best studied through your NET guide combined with bare act reading. Do not invest in a separate heavy textbook for this unit unless you are particularly weak in tort concepts.

Commercial Law (Unit VI) covers Contract Act, Sale of Goods, Company Law, Partnership, and Negotiable Instruments. Avtar Singh’s books are the gold standard here, but for UGC NET purposes, your Arihant guide plus bare act familiarity should suffice. 

Family Law (Unit VII) is best covered through Paras Diwan’s “Modern Hindu Law” if you need a textbook, though most aspirants find NET guide coverage adequate for this unit.

Common Mistakes Law Aspirants Make When Selecting Books

Buying Too Many Books Without a Reading Plan

The moment you decide to prepare for UGC NET, resist the urge to order every recommended book you find online. Collecting 15 books feels productive but actually sabotages your preparation. 

Each unfinished book adds to your stress, and you end up knowing a little about everything instead of knowing enough about the important topics. 

Stick to 5 to 7 books maximum and commit to reading them thoroughly rather than superficially skimming through a dozen sources.

Ignoring the Previous Year Question Collections

Some aspirants treat PYQ books as “last minute revision material” and focus entirely on theory during their main preparation phase. This is a costly mistake. 

Previous year questions reveal exactly how NTA frames questions, which topics they love testing, and what level of detail they expect. 

A good PYQ book should be your first purchase, not your last. Start solving previous papers from day one, even before you finish reading theory.

Using Only Standard Textbooks for MCQ Preparation

Your LLM textbooks taught you to analyze, argue, and write essays. UGC NET Paper II asks you to pick one correct answer from four options in under two minutes. These are fundamentally different skills. 

Standard textbooks do not train you for speed, elimination techniques, or the specific question patterns that appear in NET. You absolutely need MCQ focused practice through NET guides, even if your conceptual understanding from standard books is strong.

Following Senior’s Recommendations Blindly Without Considering Your Learning Style

What worked for your senior who cleared NET in 2022 might not work for you in 2025. The exam pattern evolves, new books get published, and most importantly, everyone learns differently. 

Some aspirants prefer comprehensive guides while others work better with PYQs plus selective reading. Take recommendations as starting points, but evaluate each book against your own preparation style, timeline, and budget before buying.

Previous Year Question Paper Books: Which One to Choose?

Quick Comparison of Top Previous Year Question Books

IFAS Publications’ UGC NET Law Paper II book leads the market with papers from 2013 to 2025 (June), unit wise sorting, and detailed explanations for every question. At around ₹400 to 500, it offers the best value for PYQ practice. 

Arihant’s Solved Papers book covers 2012 to 2024 with 5 additional practice sets, priced slightly lower. 

How to Use PYQ Books Effectively?

Do not just solve questions and check answers. For each wrong answer, go back to your textbook or guide and understand why you made the mistake. 

Track which units give you trouble and allocate extra revision time there. In the final month, shift to solving full papers under timed conditions. 

Aim to complete at least 8 to 10 full papers before your exam date. This builds both speed and confidence that theory reading alone cannot provide.

Budget Smart Book Selection Strategy

Essential vs Optional Books for Different Budgets

If you have under ₹1,500 to spend, prioritize two purchases: IFAS PYQ book (₹400 to 500) and Arihant Study Guide (₹550 to 600). These two books together cover previous questions, theory, and MCQ practice for all 10 units. 

Add V.N. Shukla’s Constitutional Law (₹400 to 500) if you can stretch slightly. With a ₹2,500 plus budget, add K.D. Gaur for Criminal Law and Avtar Singh for Contract Law. 

Skip individual textbooks for lower weightage units like Comparative Public Law and IPR; your NET guide handles these adequately.

Free and Online Resources to Supplement Your Books

The NTA UGC NET official website publishes the complete syllabus, exam pattern, and notifications. 

India Code portal offers free access to all bare acts including the Constitution, which is invaluable for statutory subjects. 

For Constitutional Law updates and landmark judgments, the Supreme Court website provides free access. YouTube has decent free lectures on most Paper II units, though quality varies. Use these free resources to supplement, not replace, your core book collection.

Conclusion

Here is your action plan: buy the IFAS PYQ book and Arihant Study Guide this week. These two resources give you 80% of what you need for Paper II  preparation. 

If your budget allows, add V.N. Shukla’s Constitutional Law as your third purchase since Unit 2 carries the highest weightage. 

Start by solving one unit’s PYQs to understand the exam pattern, then read the corresponding theory from your guide, and repeat this cycle for all 10 units. 

Do not wait for the “perfect” book collection before starting. The best time to begin was yesterday; the second best time is today.

If you want to read a detailed guide on the best books for UGC NET Paper II, then you can read it here. 

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