Given the current economic situation, with the manufacturing sector facing near-stagnation, it would be prudent to maintain status quo in excise duties, says Mr Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, CII. While the government contemplates an increase – after it cut rates as part of the stimulus package during the global financial crisis of 2008 - several discussions on India’s indirect taxes have concluded that Indian manufacturing suffers because of high taxes. But by framing the debate in terms of an intransigent industry refusing to accept the rollback of the stimulus, we are missing an opportunity for reform of the taxation system.