Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday challenged tax professionals and industry bodies to move beyond demands for exemptions and lower rates, asking them to identify provisions that no longer serve the tax system even when their own sectors benefit from them. Speaking at the International Tax Research and Analysis Foundation’s (ITRAF) 8th International Tax Conference in Bengaluru, Sitharaman said India was better placed economically despite challenges around the world and called for a more mature, evidence-based tax policy debate focused on the national interest.