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| + | ====== Aadhaar update stuck? RTI to your UIDAI regional office ====== | ||
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| + | <WRAP center round info 95%> | ||
| + | **Quick Reply:** Aadhaar update delayed past UIDAI 15 or 30-day SLA? File RTI to your UIDAI regional office for SRN status, reason for hold and completion date under RTI Act 2005. | ||
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| + | <WRAP info> | ||
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| + | ===== The story most citizens recognise ===== | ||
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| + | Sunita, a schoolteacher in Lucknow, gave her fingerprints for a biometric update at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra on 1 March 2026. The operator handed her a slip with a 14-digit Service Request Number and said, " | ||
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| + | Sunita' | ||
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| + | The cost of that silence is not just inconvenience. A stuck update blocks bank KYC, stops a passport application, | ||
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| + | That answer is your right. The **Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI)** is a public authority under the Right to Information Act, 2005, and it must respond to a properly framed application within 30 days. This guide shows you, step by step, how to convert an unresponsive SRN into a written reply from the officer who is actually handling your file. Every fact here — the Act, the Regulations, | ||
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| + | ===== What the Aadhaar update system actually is ===== | ||
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| + | UIDAI is a statutory body corporate established under **Section 11 of the Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act, 2016** (Act 18 of 2016). It works under the **Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)**, Government of India, and is headquartered in New Delhi. The Act was later amended by the **Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019** (Act 14 of 2019), effective from 25 July 2019, which, among other things, omitted Section 57 (private-party use of Aadhaar for identity) and gave UIDAI the power to issue directions to Aadhaar-ecosystem entities. | ||
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| + | The day-to-day rules for enrolment and updates are in the **Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, | ||
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| + | - **Demographic update (name, gender, DoB, address, mobile, email): normally 30 days** | ||
| + | - **Biometric update (photo, fingerprints, | ||
| + | - **Document-only update (POI/POA): normally 30 days** | ||
| + | - **Exception handling (updates beyond prescribed limits, e.g. name beyond twice or DoB beyond once): up to 90 days** | ||
| + | - **Aadhaar generation (child 0-18): normally 30 days; (adult 18+): normally up to 180 days** | ||
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| + | These are not casual estimates. They are published commitments, | ||
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| + | UIDAI runs its field operations through **eight Regional Offices**, each headed by a Deputy Director General. This is the structure that matters for your RTI, because your update is processed in the regional pipeline, not in Delhi. The legal foundation for residents' | ||
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| + | <WRAP tip> | ||
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| + | ===== How an Aadhaar update moves through the system ===== | ||
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| + | To ask a sharp question, you need to know where your file can get stuck. When you submit an update at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra, the operator enters your data and biometrics into the enrolment client, which generates a **14-digit Service Request Number (SRN)** for an update, or a **14-digit Enrolment ID (EID)** for a fresh enrolment. The packet is encrypted and uploaded to the UIDAI CIDR (Central Identities Data Repository). | ||
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| + | From there the packet goes through three possible gates: | ||
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| + | - **Automated demographic or biometric check** — most clean updates clear this stage and reflect within the service standard. | ||
| + | - **Manual review** — triggered when supporting documents need a human eye, or when a name, date of birth, or address change is large or unusual. | ||
| + | - **Exception handling under Regulation 6 and the beyond-limits process** — when biometrics do not match, or the resident has a biometric exception (for example, missing fingers or worn fingerprints, | ||
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| + | Your SRN or EID is the key that opens every one of these stages. Without it, UIDAI cannot trace your packet. With it, the PIO can pull the exact stage, the officer handling it, and the reason for the hold. That is why every RTI question in this guide is built around the SRN/EID. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== The 2026 update you must know about ===== | ||
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| + | Two things have changed recently that shape how you file. | ||
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| + | First, the **resident-facing services have migrated to the myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in portal**. The older resident.uidai.gov.in status pages are legacy and may not load or may show stale data. Before filing an RTI, check your update status at **https:// | ||
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| + | Second, **Regulation 16A's 10-year document update cycle is now being actively publicised by UIDAI**. Residents whose Aadhaar was generated 10 or more years ago and who have never updated their supporting documents are being asked to upload fresh proof of identity and address. This has increased the volume of update packets in the pipeline, which in turn has lengthened manual-review queues in some regional offices. If your update is one of these, the regional office, not the headquarters, | ||
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| + | What does this mean for Sunita? The portal move means her old bookmark was useless; the active status page confirmed the hold. The 10-year-cycle surge means her biometric packet may be queued behind a wave of document updates. That is exactly the kind of reason an RTI can force into the open. | ||
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| + | ===== Step-by-step: | ||
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| + | You will file **one application**, | ||
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| + | **Step 1 — Identify your Regional Office.** UIDAI has eight Regional Offices, each with a defined jurisdiction: | ||
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| + | - **RO Bengaluru** — Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Lakshadweep (Sub-Office Thiruvananthapuram) | ||
| + | - **RO Chandigarh** — Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh | ||
| + | - **RO Delhi** — Uttarakhand, | ||
| + | - **RO Guwahati** — Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, Tripura, Sikkim | ||
| + | - **RO Hyderabad** — Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, | ||
| + | - **RO Lucknow** — Uttar Pradesh | ||
| + | - **RO Mumbai** — Gujarat, Maharashtra, | ||
| + | - **RO Ranchi** — Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal (Sub-Offices Patna and Kolkata) | ||
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| + | Address your application to the **Central Public Information Officer (CPIO), UIDAI Regional Office, [city]**. Filing to headquarters in Delhi when your file is in the regional pipeline is the single most common mistake and adds weeks of transfer time under Section 6(3). | ||
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| + | **Step 2 — Prepare your questions.** Five strong, specific questions: | ||
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| + | - **SRN status:** " | ||
| + | - **Reason for delay:** " | ||
| + | - **Exception flag:** "State whether the above SRN has been placed under exception handling (biometric exception under Regulation 6, or a beyond-limits update under the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, | ||
| + | - **Officer-in-charge: | ||
| + | - **Projected completion: | ||
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| + | **Step 3 — Use the right form and fee.** This is a Central application under **Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005**. The fee is **Rs.10**, payable by cash against receipt, Indian Postal Order or banker' | ||
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| + | **Step 4 — Submit and keep proof.** If you file online, save the registration number and the PDF copy of the application. If you file by hand at the Regional Office, take a stamped receiving copy with the date, seal, and signature of the receiving officer. If you file by registered post, keep the postal acknowledgement. Proof of submission is your protection if the reply is delayed. | ||
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| + | **Step 5 — Wait 30 days.** The CPIO must reply within **30 days** of receiving your application under **Section 7(1)** of the RTI Act (48 hours where the information concerns the life or liberty of a person, which update-status queries normally do not). Mark the due date on your calendar. | ||
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| + | ===== Documents to attach ===== | ||
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| + | - A clear copy of your **Aadhaar card** (front, or front and back) for the update that is stuck. | ||
| + | - The **SRN or EID slip** given to you at the Aadhaar Seva Kendra, or a screenshot of the same. | ||
| + | - A **screenshot of the stuck status** on myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/ | ||
| + | - The **1947 helpline complaint reference number**, if you have raised one. | ||
| + | - Proof of **BPL status**, if you are claiming the fee exemption. | ||
| + | - A self-attested copy of an **identity proof** (PAN, voter ID, passport) so the PIO can confirm you are the Aadhaar holder and not a third party. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Common mistakes ===== | ||
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| + | - **Filing to UIDAI headquarters in Delhi.** Your update packet is processed in the regional pipeline. File to the **Regional Office for your state**. A Delhi filing gets transferred under Section 6(3) and costs you extra weeks. | ||
| + | - **Not quoting the SRN or EID.** Without the 14-digit number, UIDAI cannot trace your packet. Every question must carry it. | ||
| + | - **Asking for someone else's Aadhaar data.** Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act exempts third-party personal information. Only the Aadhaar holder can seek their own update status; a relative, employer, or agent cannot, without written consent and proof of authorisation. | ||
| + | - **Citing the wrong service standard.** Do not confuse the timelines. Under the UIDAI Citizen' | ||
| + | - **Using the stale resident.uidai.gov.in status URL.** The active portal is **myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in**. Check there first so your RTI reflects the current system. | ||
| + | - **Filing without first raising a 1947 helpline complaint.** A helpline reference number shows the PIO you have already tried the grievance channel and are not jumping the queue frivolously. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Real-life example ===== | ||
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| + | <WRAP center round box> | ||
| + | Sunita R., a resident of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (RO Lucknow jurisdiction), | ||
| + | </ | ||
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| + | ===== Sample RTI letter ===== | ||
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| + | < | ||
| + | To: The Central Public Information Officer | ||
| + | UIDAI Regional Office, [Bengaluru/ | ||
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| + | Subject: Application under Section 6(1) of the RTI Act, 2005 — Status of Aadhaar update SRN [full 14-digit SRN] | ||
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| + | Sir/Madam, | ||
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| + | I, [your full name], holder of Aadhaar No. [xxxx-xxxx-xxxx], | ||
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| + | Under Section 6(1) of the Right to Information Act, 2005, I seek the following information: | ||
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| + | 1. The current processing stage of SRN [number] as recorded in the CIDR or regional exception-handling system as on [date]. | ||
| + | 2. The reason for the delay beyond the 30-day service standard set out in the UIDAI Citizen' | ||
| + | 3. Whether the said SRN has been placed under exception handling (biometric exception under Regulation 6, or a beyond-limits update) under the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, | ||
| + | 4. The name, designation, | ||
| + | 5. The projected date by which the update will reflect on myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in. | ||
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| + | I state that the information sought is personal to me and I am the Aadhaar holder. I refer to my helpline complaint reference [number, if any] dated [date]. | ||
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| + | The application fee of Rs.10 is paid [online through rtionline.gov.in / by Indian Postal Order No. ___ in favour of the Accounts Officer, UIDAI / by cash against receipt]. | ||
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| + | Under Section 7(1), the information is solicited within 30 days. Under Section 10 of the RTI Act, I request that the information be furnished in the form of a written reply. | ||
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| + | Place: [city] | ||
| + | Date: [date] | ||
| + | Signature: ______ | ||
| + | Name: [your full name] | ||
| + | Address: [your postal address] | ||
| + | Email: [your email] | ||
| + | Mobile: [your mobile] | ||
| + | </ | ||
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| + | ===== The escalation ladder if you get no answer ===== | ||
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| + | If the CPIO does not reply within 30 days, or sends a vague reply, you do not stop there. | ||
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| + | - **First Appeal under Section 19(1):** File with the **First Appellate Authority (FAA)** designated for that UIDAI Regional Office, within 30 days of the expiry of the reply period. The FAA must decide within 30 days, extendable to 45. | ||
| + | - **Second Appeal under Section 19(3):** If the FAA also fails, file a Second Appeal with the **Central Information Commission**. There is no fee for a second appeal to the Central Information Commission. | ||
| + | - **Complaint under Section 18:** If the CPIO never replied or refused to accept the application, | ||
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| + | For Aadhaar-update cases, the most common outcome is that the Regional Office replies with the current stage and a fresh projected date, and the update is processed soon after — the act of a written, dated query often unblocks the queue. Use the **First Appeal** tool at https:// | ||
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| + | ===== Frequently asked questions ===== | ||
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| + | ==== Is UIDAI really covered by the RTI Act? ==== | ||
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| + | Yes. UIDAI is a statutory body corporate established under Section 11 of the Aadhaar Act, 2016, and is a public authority under the RTI Act, 2005. It maintains mandatory disclosures under Section 4(1)(b) and designates CPIOs and First Appellate Authorities. Its RTI page lists the designated officers and the online filing route. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Can I ask for my spouse' | ||
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| + | Not without written consent. Section 8(1)(j) of the RTI Act exempts third-party personal information unless the PIO is satisfied there is an overriding public interest. Aadhaar update data is personal to the holder. If you are filing for an elderly parent, attach a signed authorisation and a copy of their Aadhaar; the PIO may still insist the holder file directly. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== The status page says "Under Manual Review." | ||
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| + | It means your update packet has been routed to a human verifier, usually because the supporting documents need cross-checking or the change is substantial. Manual review sits inside the regional pipeline, which is why the Regional Office, not headquarters, | ||
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| + | ==== My biometric update failed because my fingerprints are worn. What do I ask? ==== | ||
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| + | Ask whether your SRN has been placed under exception handling under Regulation 6 of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, | ||
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| + | ==== Can I file the RTI online? ==== | ||
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| + | Yes. On the Central RTI portal (rtionline.gov.in), | ||
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| + | ==== How long will the RTI reply take? ==== | ||
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| + | The CPIO must reply within 30 days under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act. If the matter concerns the life or liberty of a person, the reply must come within 48 hours, though update-status queries do not normally meet that threshold. Mark the due date and use the timeline calculator to track it. | ||
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| + | ==== What if the reply says " | ||
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| + | That is a partial and often improper reply. The Seva Kendra operator is a vendor-side entity; the CPIO of the UIDAI Regional Office is the proper authority for processing-stage information. File a First Appeal under Section 19(1) arguing that the information sought is held by UIDAI' | ||
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| + | ==== I lost my EID slip. Can an RTI retrieve it? ==== | ||
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| + | Before filing an RTI, use the retrieve service at https:// | ||
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| + | ==== Does the 10-year document update rule apply to me? ==== | ||
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| + | Regulation 16A of the Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, | ||
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| + | ==== What is the difference between an SRN and an EID? ==== | ||
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| + | An **Enrolment ID (EID)** is the 14-digit number generated when you enrol for Aadhaar for the first time. A **Service Request Number (SRN)** is the 14-digit number generated when you submit an update (biometric, demographic, | ||
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| + | ==== Can I file the RTI in Hindi or my regional language? ==== | ||
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| + | Yes. Section 6(1) of the RTI Act allows an application in English, Hindi, or the official language of the area in which the application is made. UIDAI Regional Offices accept applications in Hindi and English. Filing in the language of your state is perfectly valid and sometimes faster for a regional office to process. | ||
| + | |||
| + | ==== Will the RTI force UIDAI to actually complete my update? ==== | ||
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| + | An RTI does not command an authority to complete a service; it commands disclosure of information. However, in practice a dated, regulation-cited RTI that asks for the officer-in-charge and the projected completion date frequently unblocks stuck updates, because it creates a written record of accountability. If the update is genuinely stuck in exception handling, the RTI reply will tell you why, and you can then escalate with evidence. | ||
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| + | ===== Sources ===== | ||
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| + | - UIDAI — About UIDAI and legal framework: [uidai.gov.in](https:// | ||
| + | - Aadhaar Act, 2016 (Act 18 of 2016) on India Code: [indiacode.nic.in](https:// | ||
| + | - Aadhaar and Other Laws (Amendment) Act, 2019: [uidai.gov.in](https:// | ||
| + | - Aadhaar (Enrolment and Update) Regulations, | ||
| + | - UIDAI Citizen' | ||
| + | - UIDAI Regional Offices and jurisdictions: | ||
| + | - UIDAI — Right to Information (CPIO and FAA designations, | ||
| + | - UIDAI — Grievance redressal and 1947 helpline: [uidai.gov.in](https:// | ||
| + | - myAadhaar status and update portal: [myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in](https:// | ||
| + | - Central RTI online portal: [rtionline.gov.in](https:// | ||
| + | - RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005 and RTI Rules, 2012: [nationalarchives.nic.in](https:// | ||
| + | - *Justice K.S. Puttaswamy (Retd.) v. Union of India*, privacy reference judgment — (2017) 10 SCC 1: [digiscr.sci.gov.in](https:// | ||
| + | - Aadhaar Act 2016 upheld (with restrictions), | ||
| + | |||
| + | ===== Related on RTI Wiki ===== | ||
| + | |||
| + | - [[rti-for-aadhaar-update-stuck]] | ||
| + | - [[rti-for-aadhaar-update-delay-2026]] | ||
| + | - [[rti-for-aadhaar-update-rejected]] | ||
| + | - [[rti-for-aadhaar-not-generated]] | ||
| + | - [[aadhaar-update-history-needed-bank-court-proof]] | ||
| + | - [[aadhaar-mobile-number-update-delayed-enrolment-centre]] | ||
| + | - [[rti-for-pan-card-status]] | ||
| + | - [[rti-for-beginners]] | ||
| + | |||
| + | //Last reviewed: 4 July 2026.// | ||
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| + | {{tag> | ||