There are two types of CA Final Direct Tax Laws papers:
1. Static : Where no major amendments come, no new case laws come. This paper makes Case studies booklet, RTP, Supplementary Material : Amendments less useful.This is a shocker from ICAI, if the Advanced Management Accounting Paper is not too difficult and not too lengthy.Nov 2014 : Group 1 pass percentage =20%, Group 2 = 7%. This was due to Lengthy AMA paper and also a static DT paper. Infact the IDT paper was also a static one.
2. Dynamic : Where major amendments,new case laws cover about 40% paper. This paper is a cakewalk to pass.If a student revises Amendments, Case laws before the exam, he can easily pass. In the dynamic paper, only new issues are asked.Major focus is on the taxation of Companies.
Till May 2013, ICAI was giving the dynamic paper. The available tips on the caclubindia have become oudated from Nov 2013.
As the Question paper gets more and more predictable, ICAI shifts from the dynamic paper to the static one.The first predictable paper was (the first New Course paper)May 2010.May 2013 was the last dynamic paper.This was also the period of high result percentage.
But as the results have dropped, the pattern has changed drastically.
Recent Changes:
1. No new case laws from the Case Compilation book.Only old case laws are coming. At maximum 2 case laws can be expected. The Question where 4 new case laws used to come has changed into 2 contemporary provisions related Questions and 2 Case laws. One will definitely will be old and one new.
2. No major amendments are coming. This is a shocker by the ICAI. Only A Multiple times Failed CA Final student can spot this.
3. ICAI is going the 90s way, where every topic will be covered including Salaries, House property. Nov 2014 was a good example of Static Paper.Till May 2013, the focus used to be on Companies, now it is shifting towards general Taxation.
So, ICAI is directly targeting VG and others who focus on selective areas. The coaching institutes deliberately omitt many relevant topics.They cover specific case laws, specific topics. The are still giving preference to Dynamic pattern.Sadly, ICAI has changed the pattern.
So, you should follow the book, which covers static and Dynamic both.It should be comprehensive but relevant with the changes in trend.
I would recommend : Bangar Quick Referencer cum Compiler
It has a comprehensive summary. It has all the past Questions. It has all the amendments.
All above in 500 pages.
You can also go for the Practice Manual+ RTP+ Supplementary Material : Amendments+ case Laws.
But Bangar beautifully arranges the above ICAI material in its 500 page book.
VG modules have 1400 pages in total with incomplete coverage of many relevant issues.