Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/291 · issued 21 Jan 2010 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs banks to update their internal lists with the latest UN 1267 Committee changes on Al-Qaida/Taliban-linked individuals and entities. All new and existing accounts must be screened against this list, and any matches must be handled per UAPA Order 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 and groups linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban using the latest UN changes.
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 linked to anyone on the list.
If you find a match, follow the freezing rules from the September 17, 2009 circular (paragraph 6).
Your Compliance Officer must say they got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A KYC & compliance officer in Indore receives this RBI circular. She immediately updates her bank's internal list of terrorist names with the latest UN changes. Before approving a new gold loan for a customer, she screens the name against the updated list and finds no match, so she proceeds safely.
What changed
RBI issued a circular on January 21, 2010, forwarding a UN Security Council 1267 Committee note dated January 19, 2010, which made changes to the Consolidated List of individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. Banks must update their records accordingly.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately incorporate the updated UN list into their customer screening processes. Failure to identify and freeze accounts of designated terrorists could lead to regulatory action. This reinforces the strict compliance regime under the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009.
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 accounts.
Scan all existing accounts to ensure none are held by or linked to listed entities or individuals.
Follow the freezing procedures detailed in paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular for any matches.
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
What is the source of the updated list?
The updated list comes from the UN Security Council's 1267 Committee, as communicated by the Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) via a note dated January 19, 2010.
What should we do if we find a match in existing accounts?
You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources of the designated individual/entity as per the procedures in paragraph 6 of RBI's circular dated September 17, 2009.
Where can we access the full consolidated list?
The complete list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/291
DBOD. AML. No. 12841 /14.06.060/2009-10
January 21, 2010
The Chairmen / 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.11031/14.06.059/2009-10 dated December 21, 2009. We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) copy of note dated January 19, 2010 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/2009-10/291 · issued 21 Jan 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
📜 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.
Follow the freezing procedures detailed in paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular for any matches.
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 Terror List Update: 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 Jan 2010).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/291 -- UN Terror List Update: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions
Issued: 21 Jan 2010
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 accounts.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to ensure none are held by or linked to listed entities or individuals.
Action required: Follow the freezing procedures detailed in paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular for any matches.
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=5469&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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