Updated UN Terror List: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/268 · issued 21 Dec 2009 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has circulated an updated UN consolidated list of individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. Banks must screen all new and existing accounts against this list and freeze assets of designated persons as per earlier UAPA procedures.
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 internal list of bad people/groups linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban using the new UN list from November 17, 2009.
Before opening any new account, check the customer's name against this list to make sure they are not on it.
Check all existing accounts to see if any are owned by or connected to anyone on the list.
If you find a match, freeze their money and assets as told in the government's UAPA order from August 27, 2009, and the RBI circular from September 17, 2009.
Your Compliance Officer must say they got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A KYC & compliance officer in Indore, Priya, receives this RBI circular. She immediately updates her bank's screening database with the latest UN list. Before approving a new gold loan for a customer, she checks the name against the list and finds no match, so she proceeds. She also runs a scan of all existing gold-loan accounts and finds none linked to listed entities, ensuring full compliance.
What changed
RBI received a fresh note from the UN Security Council's 1267 Committee, dated November 17, 2009, with changes to the consolidated list of Al-Qaida and Taliban-linked entities. Banks are now required to update their internal lists and ensure compliance with the revised UN sanctions.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their customer screening databases with the latest UN list and verify no existing account is linked to any listed individual or entity. Failure to comply could lead to regulatory action, and banks must also freeze funds/assets of designated persons as per the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009, with procedures detailed in the September 17, 2009 circular.
What you must do
Update your internal consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the latest UN 1267 Committee changes.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening any account.
Scan all existing accounts to ensure none are held by or linked to listed entities or individuals.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of designated persons 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 complete updated list?
The full 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 linked to listed entities?
You must freeze all funds, financial assets, or economic resources held in such accounts, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Do I need to acknowledge receipt of this circular?
Yes, the Compliance Officer or Principal Officer must acknowledge receipt of this circular letter.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/268
DBOD. AML. No.11031/14.06.059/2009-10
December 21, 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 organsaition
Please refer to our circular letter DBOD. AML.No.10250/14.06.058/2009-10 dated December 9, 2009. We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) copy of note dated November 17, 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.
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/2009-10/268 · issued 21 Dec 2009. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening any account.
📜 Compliance
Update your internal consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the latest UN 1267 Committee changes.
Scan all existing accounts to ensure none are held by or linked to listed entities or individuals.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of designated persons 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 “Updated UN Terror List: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions” is: “Update your internal consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the latest UN 1267 Committee changes.” (RBI issued this 21 Dec 2009).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/268 -- Updated UN Terror List: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions
Issued: 21 Dec 2009
Action required: Update your internal 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 opening any account.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to ensure none are held by or linked to listed entities or individuals.
Action required: Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of designated persons 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=5431&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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