Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/355 · issued 23 Mar 2010 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs Primary Urban Co-operative Banks to update the UNSC 1267 consolidated list of Al-Qaida/Taliban-linked individuals/entities. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against this list and follow UAPA freezing 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 list of bad people (terrorists linked to Al-Qaida/Taliban) with the newest changes from March 11, 2010.
Before opening a new account, check the customer's name against this list to make sure they are not a bad person.
Check all existing accounts to see if any belong to or are linked to anyone on the list.
If you find a match, freeze their money and assets following the steps from the November 16, 2009 circular.
Send a message to your RBI Regional Office to say you got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A compliance officer at a Primary Urban Co-operative Bank in Surat receives this circular. She immediately updates the bank's database with the latest UN terror list, then asks her team to screen all new account applications and scan every existing account. When she finds a savings account linked to a newly listed entity, she freezes the funds exactly as the November 16, 2009 circular instructs, ensuring no money reaches the designated group.
What changed
RBI forwarded a March 11, 2010 UN 1267 Committee note with changes to the consolidated list of individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. This updates the previous circular dated March 19, 2010. Banks must now use this revised list for compliance.
What it means for you
UCBs must immediately update their internal databases with the latest UN terror list. Failure to screen new accounts or scan existing ones could lead to regulatory action. The freezing of assets must follow the detailed steps in the November 16, 2009 circular, ensuring no funds reach designated entities.
What you must do
Update your consolidated list of UNSC 1267-designated individuals/entities with the latest changes from the March 11, 2010 note.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Scan all existing accounts to identify and flag any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 6 of the November 16, 2009 circular for any matches.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers / Principal Officers of UCBs, Branch managers handling account opening and monitoring
❓ Common questions
Where can I find the full consolidated list?
The complete list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml. RBI has also enclosed a copy of the UN note with changes.
What action is required if we find a match in an existing account?
You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources in that account as per paragraph 6 of RBI circular dated November 16, 2009, and report to the Compliance Officer.
Is this circular applicable only to new accounts?
No. It applies to both new accounts (pre-opening screening) and existing accounts (full scan to ensure no account is held by or linked to listed entities).
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/355
UBD. BPD. (PCB).Cir. No. 51/14.01.062/2009-10
March 23, 2010
The Chief Executive Officers of
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Dear Sir / Madam,
UB - 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. 49 / 14.01.062 / 2009-10 dated March 19, 2010 on the above subject. We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs), copy of note dated March 11, 2010 (copy enclosed) 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 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
(S.S. Barik)
General Manager
Encl: As above.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/355 · issued 23 Mar 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 consolidated list of UNSC 1267-designated individuals/entities with the latest changes from the March 11, 2010 note.
Scan all existing accounts to identify and flag any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 6 of the November 16, 2009 circular for any matches.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office.
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 / Principal Officers of UCBs, Branch managers handling account opening and monitoring), your first concrete step on “Update UN Terror List for UCBs: Al-Qaida/Taliban” is: “Update your consolidated list of UNSC 1267-designated individuals/entities with the latest changes from the March 11, 2010 note.” (RBI issued this 23 Mar 2010).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/355 -- Update UN Terror List for UCBs: Al-Qaida/Taliban
Issued: 23 Mar 2010
Action required: Update your consolidated list of UNSC 1267-designated individuals/entities with the latest changes from the March 11, 2010 note.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify and flag any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Action required: Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 6 of the November 16, 2009 circular for any matches.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office.
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=5541&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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