Reliance Industries Limited
Report on the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements
Opinion
We have audited the accompanying Standalone Financial Statements of Reliance Industries Limited (“the Company”) which includes its joint operations, which comprise the Balance Sheet as at 31st March 2024, and the Statement of Profit and Loss (including Other Comprehensive Income), the Statement of Cash Flow and the Statement of Changes in Equity for the year ended on that date, and notes to the Standalone Financial Statements including a summary of material accounting policies and other explanatory information.
In our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the aforesaid Standalone Financial Statements give the information required by the Companies Act, 2013 (“the Act”) in the manner so required and give a true and fair view in conformity with the Indian Accounting Standards prescribed under Section 133 of the Act read with the Companies (Indian Accounting Standards) Rules, 2015, as amended, (”Ind AS”) and other accounting principles generally accepted in India, of the state of affairs of the Company as at 31st March 2024, and its profit, total comprehensive income, its cash flows and the changes in equity for the year ended on that date.
Basis for Opinion
We conducted our audit of the Standalone Financial Statements in accordance with the Standards on Auditing (SAs) specified under Section 143(10) of the Act. Our responsibilities under those Standards are further described in the Auditor's Responsibility for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements section of our report. We are independent of the Company in accordance with the Code of Ethics issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) together with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the Standalone Financial Statements under the provisions of the Act and the Rules made thereunder, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements and the ICAI's Code of Ethics. We believe that the audit evidence obtained by us is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion on the Standalone Financial Statements.
Key Audit Matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professiona judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the Standalone Financial Statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the Standalone Financial Statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. We have determined the matters described below to be the key audit matters to be communicated in our report.
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No.
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Key Audit Matter
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Auditor’s Response
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1.
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Litigation matters
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The Company has certain significant ongoing legal proceedings
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Our audit procedures included and were not limited to the
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for various complex matters with the Government of India and other parties, continuing from earlier years, which are as
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following:
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under:
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- Tested the design, implementation and operating
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effectiveness of the controls established by the Company in
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1. Matters in relation to Oil and Gas:
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the process of evaluation of litigation matters.
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(a) Disallowance of certain costs under the production
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- Assessed the management’s position through discussions
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sharing contract, relating to Block KG-DWN-98/3
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with the in-house legal expert and external legal opinions
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and consequent deposit of differential revenue on
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obtained by the Company (where considered necessary) on
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gas sales from D1D3 field to the gas pool account
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both, the probability of success in the aforesaid cases, and the
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maintained by Gail (India) Limited.
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magnitude of any potential loss.
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(b) Claim against the Company in respect of gas said to
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- Discussed with the management on the developments
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have migrated from neighbouring blocks (KGD6).
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in respect of these litigations during the year ended 31st March, 2024 till the date of approval of the Standalone
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(c) Claims relating to limits of cost recovery, profit
sharing and audit and accounting provisions of the
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Financial Statements.
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public sector corporations etc., arising under two
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- Rolled out of enquiry letters to the Company’s legal counsel
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production sharing contracts entered into in 1994.
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and assessed the responses received.
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Sr.
No.
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Key Audit Matter
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Auditor’s Response
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(d) Suit for specific performance of a contract for supply of natural gas before the Hon’ble Bombay High Court.
Refer Notes 35.3 and 35.4 to the Standalone Financial Statements.
2. Matter relating to trading in shares of Reliance Petroleum Limited (‘RPL’):
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- Assessed the objectivity and competence of the Company’s legal counsel involved in the process.
- Reviewed the disclosures made by the Company in the Standalone Financial Statements.
- Obtained Management representation letter on the assessment of these matters.
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Securities Appellate Tribunal judgement dated 5th November, 2020, dismissing the Company’s appeal made in relation to Order passed by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (‘SEBI’) under Section 11B of the SEBI Act, 1992 in connection with trades by the Company in the stock exchanges in 2007 in the shares of Reliance Petroleum Limited, then subsidiary of the Company, against which an appeal has been filed with the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India which is pending.
Refer Note 36(IV) to the Standalone Financial Statements.
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Due to complexity involved in these litigation matters, management’s judgement regarding recognition, measurement and disclosure of provisions for these legal proceedings is inherently uncertain and might change over time as the outcomes of the legal cases are determined.
Accordingly, it has been considered as a key audit matter.
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2.
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Fair Valuation of Investments
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As at 31st March, 2024, the Company has investments of C 78,093 crore in Equity and Preference Shares of Jio Digital Fibre Private Limited (‘JDFPL’) which are measured at fair value as per Ind AS 109 read with Ind AS 113.
These investments are Level 3 investments as per the fair value hierarchy in Ind AS 113 and accordingly determination of fair value is based on a high degree of judgement and input from data that is not directly observable in the market. Further, the fair value is significantly influenced by the expected pattern of future benefits of the tangible assets of JDFPL (fibre assets). Accordingly, it has been considered as a key audit matter.
Refer Notes 2 and 38A to the Standalone Financial Statements.
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Our audit procedures included and were not limited to the
following:
- Tested the design, implementation and operating effectiveness of the controls established by the Company in the process of determination of fair value of the investments.
- Reviewed the fair valuation reports provided by the management by involvement of internal valuation specialists.
- Assessed the assumptions around the cash flow forecasts, discount rates, expected growth rates and its effect on business and terminal growth rates used and the valuation methodology inter-alia through involvement of the internal specialists.
- Discussed potential changes in key drivers as compared to previous year / actual performance with management to evaluate the inputs and assumptions used in the cash flow forecasts.
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- Assessed the objectivity and competence of our internal specialist and Company’s external experts involved in the process.
- Reviewed the disclosures made by the Company in the Standalone Financial Statements.
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- Obtained Management Representation Letter as regards to fair valuation of these investments
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No.
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Key Audit Matter
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Auditor’s Response
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3.
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Information Technology (IT) systems and controls over financial reporting
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We identified IT systems and controls over financial reporting as a key audit matter for the Company because its financial accounting and reporting systems are fundamentally reliant on IT systems and IT controls to process significant transaction volumes, specifically with respect to revenue and raw material consumption. Also, due to such large transaction volumes
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Our procedures included and were not limited to the following:
- Assessed the complexity of the IT environment by engaging IT specialists and through discussion with the head of IT and internal audit at the Company and identified IT applications that are relevant to our audit.
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and the increasing challenge to protect the integrity of the
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- Tested the design, implementation and operating effectiveness
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Company's systems and data, cyber security has become
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of IT general controls over program development and changes,
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more significant. Automated accounting procedures and
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access to program and data and IT operations by engaging
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IT environment controls, which include IT governance, IT
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IT specialists.
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general controls over program development and changes,
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- Performed inquiry procedures with the head of cybersecurity
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access to program and data and IT operations, IT application
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at the Company in respect of the overall security architecture
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controls and interfaces between IT applications, are required
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and any key threats addressed by the Company in the
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to be designed and to operate effectively to ensure accurate
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current year.
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financial reporting.
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- Tested the design, implementation and operating effectiveness of IT application controls in the key processes impacting financial reporting of the Company by engaging IT specialists.
- Tested the design, implementation and operating effectiveness of controls relating to data transmission through the different IT systems to the financial reporting systems by engaging
IT specialists.
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Information Other than the Financial Statements and Auditor’s Report Thereon
- The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, but does not include the Consolidated Financial Statements, Standalone Financial Statements and our auditor's report thereon.
- Our opinion on the Standalone Financial Statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.
- In connection with our audit of the Standalone Financial Statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the Standalone Financial Statements, or our knowledge obtained during the course of our audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated.
- If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.
Responsibilities of Management and Those Charged with Governance for the Standalone Financial Statements
The Company's Board of Directors is responsible for the matters stated in Section 134(5) of the Act with respect to the preparation of these Standalone Financial Statements that give a true and fair view of the financial position, financial performance including other comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in equity of the Company in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in India, including Ind AS specified under Section 133 of the Act. This responsibility also includes maintenance of adequate accounting records in accordance with the provisions of the Act for safeguarding the assets of the Company and for preventing and detecting frauds and other irregularities; selection and application of appropriate accounting policies; making judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; and design, implementation and maintenance of adequate internal financial controls, that were operating effectively for ensuring the accuracy and completeness of the accounting records, relevant to the preparation and presentation of the Standalone Financial Statements that give a true and fair view and are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
In preparing the Standalone Financial Statements, management and Board of Directors is responsible for assessing the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going
concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Board of Directors either intend to liquidate the Company or to cease operations, or has no realistic alternative but to do so.
The Company's Board of Directors are also responsible for overseeing the Company's financial reporting process.
Auditor’s Responsibility for the Audit of the Standalone Financial Statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the Standalone Financial Statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with SAs will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these Standalone Financial Statements.
As part of an audit in accordance with SAs, we exercise professional judgment and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:
- Identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the Standalone Financial Statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.
- Obtain an understanding of internal financial controls relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances. Under Section 143(3)(i) of the Act, we are also responsible for expressing our opinion on whether the Company has adequate internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements in place and the operating effectiveness of such controls.
- Evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the management.
- Conclude on the appropriateness of management's use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions
that may cast significant doubt on the Company's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor's report to the related
disclosures in the Standalone Financial Statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor's report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Company to cease to continue as a going concern.
- Evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the Standalone Financial Statements, including the disclosures, and whether the Standalone Financial Statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.
Materiality is the magnitude of misstatements in the Standalone Financial Statements that, individually or in aggregate, makes it probable that the economic decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable user of the Standalone Financial Statements may be influenced. We consider quantitative materiality and qualitative factors (i) in planning the scope of our audit work and in evaluating the results of our work; and (ii) to evaluate the effect of any identified misstatements in the Standalone Financial Statements.
We communicate with those charged with governance regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal controls with reference to financial statements that we identify during our audit.
We also provide those charged with governance with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.
From the matters communicated with those charged with governance, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the Standalone Financial Statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor's report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.
Report on Other Legal and Regulatory Requirements
1. As required by Section 143(3) of the Act, based on our audit, we report that:
a) We have sought and obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit.
b) In our opinion, proper books of account as required by law have been kept by the Company so far as it appears from our examination of those books.
c) The Balance Sheet, the Statement of Profit and Loss including Other Comprehensive Income, the Statement of Cash Flow and Statement of Changes in Equity dealt with by this Report are in agreement with the books of account.
d) In our opinion, the aforesaid Standalone Financial Statements comply with the Ind AS specified under Section 133 of the Act.
e) On the basis of the written representations received from the directors as on 31st March, 2024 taken on record by the Board of Directors, none of the directors is disqualified as on 31st March, 2024 from being appointed as a director in terms of Section 164(2) of the Act.
f) With respect to the adequacy of the internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements of the Company and the operating effectiveness of such controls, refer to our separate Report in “Annexure A”. Our report expresses an unmodified opinion on the adequacy and operating effectiveness of the Company's internal financial controls with reference to Standalone Financial Statements.
g) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor's Report in accordance with the requirements of Section 197(16) of the Act, as amended, in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us, the remuneration paid by the Company to its directors during the year is in accordance with the provisions of Section 197 read with Schedule V of the Act.
h) With respect to the other matters to be included in the Auditor's Report in accordance with Rule 11 of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014, as amended, in our opinion and to the best of our information and according to the explanations given to us:
i. The Company has disclosed the impact of pending litigations on its financial position in its Standalone Financial Statements
- Refer Note 36 to the Standalone Financial Statements.
ii. The Company has made provision, as required under the applicable law or accounting standards, for material foreseeable losses, if any, on long-term contracts including derivative contracts.
iii. There has been no delay in transferring amounts, required to be transferred, to the Investor Education and Protection Fund by the Company except for an amount of
C 2 crore which are held in abeyance due to pending legal cases.
iv. (a) The Management has represented
that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, no funds have been advanced or loaned or invested (either from borrowed funds or share premium or any other sources or kind of funds) by the Company to or in any other person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities (“Intermediaries”), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Intermediary shall, directly or indirectly lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Company (“Ultimate Beneficiaries”) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
(b) The Management has represented, that, to the best of its knowledge and belief, no funds have been received by the Company from any person(s) or entity(ies), including foreign entities (“Funding Parties”), with the understanding, whether recorded in writing or otherwise, that the Company shall, directly or indirectly, lend or invest in other persons or entities identified in any manner whatsoever by or on behalf of the Funding Party (“Ultimate Beneficiaries”) or provide any guarantee, security or the like on behalf of the Ultimate Beneficiaries.
(c) Based on the audit procedures performed that have been considered reasonable and appropriate in the circumstances, nothing has come to our notice that has caused us to believe that the representations under sub-clause (i) and (ii) of Rule 11(e) of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014,
as provided under (a) and (b) above, contain any material misstatement.
v. The final dividend proposed for the previous year, declared and paid by the Company during the year is in accordance with Section 123 of the Act, as applicable.
As stated in Note 44 to the Standalone Financial Statements, the Board of Directors of the Company has proposed final dividend for the year which is subject to the approval of the members at the ensuing Annual General Meeting. Such dividend proposed is in accordance with Section 123 of the Act, as applicable.
vi. Based on our examination which included test checks, the Company has used accounting software for maintaining its books of account for the year ended 31st March, 2024 which has a feature of recording audit trail (edit log) facility and the same has operated throughout the year for all relevant transactions recorded in the
For Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP
Chartered Accountants
Firm's Registration No. 117366W/W-100018
Abhijit A. Damle
Partner
Membership No.102912 UDIN: 24102912BKEPFY4627
Place: Mumbai Date: April 22, 2024
software. Further, during the course of our audit, we did not come across any instance of the audit trail feature being tampered with.
As proviso to Rule 3(1) of the Companies (Accounts) Rules, 2014 is applicable from 1st April, 2023, reporting under Rule 11 (g) of the Companies (Audit and Auditors) Rules, 2014 on preservation of audit trail as per the statutory requirements for record retention is not applicable for the financial year ended 31st March, 2024.
2. As required by the Companies (Auditor's Report) Order, 2020 (“the Order”) issued by the Central Government in terms of Section 143(11) of the Act, we give in “Annexure B”, a statement on the matters specified in paragraphs 3 and 4 of the Order.
For Chaturvedi & Shah LLP
Chartered Accountants
Firm's Registration No. 101720W/W-100355
Sandesh Ladha
Partner
Membership No. 047841 UDIN: 24047841BKCAJA8417
Place: Mumbai Date: April 22, 2024
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