UN Terror List Update: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Compliance
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/399 · issued 15 Apr 2010 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has circulated an updated UN consolidated list of individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against this list, freeze assets of designated entities as per UAPA Order, and ensure strict compliance.
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 the bank’s watch‑list with the newest UN consolidated list (list of people and groups linked to Al‑Qaida or Taliban).
Before opening any new account, check the applicant’s name against that list; if it appears, do not open the account.
Run a scan of all existing accounts to see if any names match the list and, if they do, freeze the money as required by the UAPA Order (law that tells how to freeze funds).
Follow the exact freezing steps that were written in RBI’s circular dated 17 September 2009.
The Compliance Officer or Principal Officer must sign to confirm they received the circular.
How it plays out — a real example
Rohit, a senior compliance officer at State Bank of India in Mumbai, receives the RBI circular on 15 April 2010, updates the bank’s AML/KYC (anti‑money‑laundering / know‑your‑customer) software with the new UN consolidated list, checks a new customer named Ahmed Khan against it and finds no match, then runs a batch scan that flags a dormant account belonging to Abdul Rahman; Rohit follows the UAPA Order steps to freeze that account, records the action, and signs off to acknowledge receipt of the circular.
What changed
RBI received a note dated April 12, 2010 from the UN Security Council's 1267 Committee with changes to the consolidated list of individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. Banks are required to update their records with this revised list and ensure no accounts are held by or linked to any listed entity or individual.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal screening databases with the latest UN consolidated list. Before opening any new account, customer names must be verified against this list, and all existing accounts must be scanned to identify any matches. For any matches found, banks must freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources as per the procedure in the UAPA Order and RBI's earlier circular.
What you must do
Update your internal AML/KYC systems with the latest UN consolidated list of individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Conduct a retrospective scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the list.
Freeze funds and economic resources of any matched accounts as per the UAPA Order and RBI circular dated September 17, 2009.
Ensure the Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
Who it affects
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated list?
The updated consolidated list is from the UN Security Council's 1267 Committee, forwarded by the Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs). The full list is available on the UN website.
What action is required if a match is found in an existing account?
Banks must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources held in such accounts, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 6 of RBI's circular dated September 17, 2009, which implements the UAPA Order.
Do we need to acknowledge receipt of 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/2009-10/399
DBOD. AML.No.17642 /14.06.066/2009-10
April 15, 2010
The Chairmen / CEOs of all Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding RRBs)/
Local Area Banks / All India 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.17086/14.06.065/2009-10 dated April 6, 2010. We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) copy of note dated April 12, 2010 ( copy enclosed ) forwarded by 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/All India 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/2009-10/399 · issued 15 Apr 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update your internal AML/KYC systems with the latest UN consolidated list of individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
📜 Compliance
Conduct a retrospective scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the list.
Freeze funds and economic resources of any matched accounts as per the UAPA Order and RBI circular dated September 17, 2009.
Ensure the 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 an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions), your first concrete step on “UN Terror List Update: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Compliance” is: “Update your internal AML/KYC systems with the latest UN consolidated list of individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban.” (RBI issued this 15 Apr 2010).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/399 -- UN Terror List Update: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Compliance
Issued: 15 Apr 2010
Action required: Update your internal AML/KYC systems with the latest UN consolidated list of individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Conduct a retrospective scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the list.
Action required: Freeze funds and economic resources of any matched accounts as per the UAPA Order and RBI circular dated September 17, 2009.
Action required: Ensure the 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=5593&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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