UN Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions List Update – Dec 2009
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/251 · issued 09 Dec 2009 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs banks to update their UNSCR 1267/1822 consolidated list with new changes from the UN 1267 Committee, screen all new and existing accounts against it, and follow UAPA freezing procedures as per earlier circulars.
Sanctions-list safety note. This circular refers to a specific UN Security Council / UAPA designated-entities list update as it stood on the date above — sanctions lists change often, and a newer update almost certainly exists today. Never use this page, or any single dated circular, as your current screening list. Always screen against the live, current list at the official UAPA proscribed-organisations list and the UN Consolidated List, and confirm the obligations for your bank on the official rbi.org.in source below.
The rule, in the simplest words
Banks must update their list of bad people (terrorists linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban) with the new changes from the UN (a group of countries that make rules).
Before letting someone open a new account, check their name against this updated list to make sure they are not on it.
Check all existing accounts to see if any belong to or are linked to people on the list.
If you find a match, freeze (stop all use of) their money and assets right away, following the rules from the September 17, 2009 circular.
Your Compliance Officer (the person in charge of following rules) must say they got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a compliance officer at a bank in Mumbai, receives this circular on December 10, 2009. He immediately updates the bank's screening system with the new UN list from December 3, 2009, then runs a check on all 50,000 existing accounts. He finds one account matching a newly added name, freezes it as per the September 17, 2009 rules, and reports it to his principal officer, feeling relieved he caught it before any trouble.
What changed
The UN Security Council's 1267 Committee revised its Consolidated List of individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. RBI received a copy of the December 3, 2009 note from the Committee and forwarded it to banks, replacing the previous list from November 11, 2009 circular.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions screening databases with the latest UN list. Failure to identify and freeze accounts of designated persons could lead to regulatory action and reputational risk. The UAPA Order of August 27, 2009, and related freezing procedures remain the binding framework.
What you must do
Update your consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the latest UN 1267 Committee changes.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Freeze funds and assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure your Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
Who it affects
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, Financial Institutions
❓ Common questions
Where can I find the full updated list?
The complete consolidated list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml.
What action is required for existing accounts that match the list?
You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources held in such accounts, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 6 of RBI circular dated September 17, 2009.
Do I need to acknowledge this circular?
Yes, the Compliance Officer or Principal Officer must acknowledge receipt of this circular letter to RBI.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/251
DBOD. AML. No.10250 /14.06.058/2009-10
December 9, 2009
The Chairman / CEOs of all Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding RRBs)/
Local Area Banks / Financial Institutions
Dear Sir,
List of Terrorist Individuals/Organisations - under UNSCR 1267(1999)
and 1822(2008) on Taliban/Al-Qaida Organisation
Please refer to our circular letter DBOD.AML.No.8299/14.06.057/2009-10 dated November 11, 2009. We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) copy of note dated December 3, 2009 from the Chairman of UN Security Council's 1267 Committee regarding changes made in the Consolidated List of Individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban (copy enclosed).
2. Banks/Financial Institutions are required to update the consolidated list of individuals/entities as circulated by Reserve Bank and before opening any new account, it should be ensured that the name/s of the proposed customer does not appear in the list. Further, banks should scan all existing accounts to ensure that no account is held by or linked to any of the entities or individuals included in the list.
3 . Banks are advised to strictly follow the procedure laid down in the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009 enclosed to our circular DBOD.AML.BC. No. 44/14.01.001/2009-10 dated September 17, 2009 and ensure meticulous compliance to the Order issued by the Government.
4. As far as freezing of funds, financial assets or economic resources or related services held in the form of bank accounts of the designated individuals/entities are concerned, action should be taken as detailed in paragraph 6 of the circular dated September 17, 2009, mentioned above.
5. The complete details of the said consolidated list are available on the UN website:
http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml
6. Compliance Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular letter.
Yours faithfully,
(P. K. Das)
Deputy General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/251 · issued 09 Dec 2009. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
📜 Compliance
Update your consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the latest UN 1267 Committee changes.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Freeze funds and assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure your Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, Financial Institutions), your first concrete step on “UN Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions List Update – Dec 2009” is: “Update your consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the latest UN 1267 Committee changes.” (RBI issued this 09 Dec 2009).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/251 -- UN Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions List Update – Dec 2009
Issued: 09 Dec 2009
Action required: Update your consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the latest UN 1267 Committee changes.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Action required: Freeze funds and assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Action required: Ensure your Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
💬 Banker Discussion
Discuss this circular with fellow bankers — reply, upvote what helps, report what doesn’t belong. Be professional; no client data. Views are the commenter’s own, not BankPulse’s.
BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=5409&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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