UCBs: Update UN Terrorist List for Al-Qaida/Taliban
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/258 · issued 16 Dec 2009 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all Primary Urban Co-operative Banks to update their records with the latest UNSC 1267 Committee amendments to the Al-Qaida/Taliban consolidated list, including deletions and changes. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against this list and follow UAPA Order procedures for freezing assets.
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
Update your bank's list of bad people (terrorists linked to Al-Qaida/Taliban) with the new changes from the UN (United Nations) – some names were removed or changed.
Before opening any new account, check the customer's 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 connected to people or groups on the list.
Follow the government's rules (UAPA Order) for freezing (blocking) the money and assets of listed people or groups.
Send a confirmation to your RBI (Reserve Bank of India) office that you received this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a compliance officer at a primary urban co-operative bank in Surat, receives this circular. He immediately updates the bank's internal terrorist list with the three annexes of UN changes, then runs a scan of all 5,000 existing accounts. He finds no matches, but before approving a new gold-loan application that afternoon, he double-checks the applicant's name against the updated list to ensure compliance.
What changed
RBI has forwarded three UN Security Council 1267 Committee notes (dated September 3, 23, and October 22, 2009) containing amendments to the consolidated list of individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. The amendments include deletions of entries, strike-through/underline changes, and an updated review of names, detailed in three annexes. Banks must now incorporate these changes into their screening processes.
What it means for you
Urban Co-operative Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists to reflect the latest UNSC amendments, ensuring no new accounts are opened for listed entities and existing accounts are scanned for matches. Non-compliance with the UAPA Order and RBI's freezing instructions could lead to regulatory action. This reinforces the ongoing obligation to maintain robust KYC/AML controls.
What you must do
Update your bank's consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the amendments in Annex I, II, and III of this circular.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to or held by listed individuals/entities.
Strictly follow the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009, and the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 6 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office via the Compliance Officer/Principal Officer.
Who it affects
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of UCBs, KYC/AML teams in UCBs
❓ Common questions
What specific changes are being made to the terrorist list?
The circular includes three sets of amendments: (1) strike-through and underline changes to four entries plus a review update (Annex I); (2) deletion of one entry and changes to two entries plus a review update (Annex II); (3) deletion of four entries plus a review update (Annex III). Banks must refer to the annexes for exact details.
Do we need to freeze accounts immediately if a match is found?
Yes, but follow the specific freezing procedures detailed in paragraph 6 of RBI circular dated November 16, 2009 (UBD.CO.BPD.PCB.Cir.No.21/12.05.001/2009-10). This includes freezing funds, financial assets, or economic resources of designated individuals/entities.
Where can we find the full consolidated list?
The complete consolidated list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml. Banks should cross-reference this with the amendments provided by RBI.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/258
UBD (PCB) CO.BPD. Cir. No.31/14.01.062/2009-10
December 16, 2009
The Chief Executive Officers of
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Dear Sir / Madam,
List of Terrorist individuals/organizations – under UNSCR 1267 (1999) and 1822(2008) on Taliban/Al-Qaida organisation
Please refer to our circular UBD (PCB) CO.BPD. Cir. No. 15 / 14.01.062 / 2009-10 dated October 22, 2009 on the above subject. We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) copies of notes dated September 3, 2009; September 23, 2009 and October 22, 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 as specified below:
Amendments specified with strike –through and underline in the four entries to the Consolidated List and an update of the review of names of the Consolidated List as per Annex-I
Amendments made through deletion of one entry and amendment specified with strike –through and underline in the two entries to the Consolidated List and an update of the review of names of the Consolidated List as per Annex-II
Amendments made through deletion of the four entries specified from its Consolidated List and an update of the review of names of the Consolidated List as per Annex- III
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 UBD.CO.BPD.PCB.Cir.No.21/12.05.001/2009-10 dated November 16, 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 November 16, 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. The Compliance Officer / Principal Officer of the bank should acknowledge receipt of this circular to our Regional Office concerned.
Yours faithfully
(Monisha Chakraborty)
Deputy General Manager
Encl: As above.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/258 · issued 16 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 bank's consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the amendments in Annex I, II, and III of this circular.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to or held by listed individuals/entities.
Strictly follow the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009, and the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 6 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office via the Compliance Officer/Principal Officer.
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 Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of UCBs, KYC/AML teams in UCBs), your first concrete step on “UCBs: Update UN Terrorist List for Al-Qaida/Taliban” is: “Update your bank's consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the amendments in Annex I, II, and III of this circular.” (RBI issued this 16 Dec 2009).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/258 -- UCBs: Update UN Terrorist List for Al-Qaida/Taliban
Issued: 16 Dec 2009
Action required: Update your bank's consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the amendments in Annex I, II, and III of this circular.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to or held by listed individuals/entities.
Action required: Strictly follow the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009, and the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 6 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office via the Compliance Officer/Principal Officer.
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=5421&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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