UN Terror List Updates: Banks Must Screen Accounts
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/451 · issued 06 May 2010 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates banks to update the UN 1267/1822 consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. Before opening new accounts, verify names against this list; also scan all existing accounts to ensure no matches. Strict compliance with UAPA Order and freezing procedures is required.
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 list of terrorist individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban as per the UN 1267/1822 changes.
Verify the proposed customer's name against the updated list before opening any new account.
Scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is held by or linked to any listed individual or entity.
Follow the freezing procedures for funds, financial assets, or economic resources as per the UAPA Order.
How it plays out — a real example
A KYC & compliance officer in Indore, Mr. Kumar, must update the list of terrorist individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban as per the UN 1267/1822 changes. Before opening a new account for a customer, Mr. Kumar verifies the customer's name against the updated list to ensure they are not linked to any listed individual or entity. If a match is found, Mr. Kumar freezes the customer's funds and financial assets as per the UAPA Order.
What changed
RBI received a May 5, 2010 note 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 must now update their records with these changes and ensure no new or existing accounts are linked to listed entities.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists with the latest UN 1267/1822 changes. This affects customer onboarding and ongoing account monitoring, requiring enhanced due diligence. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory action, as the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009 must be strictly followed.
What you must do
Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities as per the UN 1267/1822 changes received from the Government of India.
Before opening any new account, verify the proposed customer's name against the updated list.
Scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is held by or linked to any listed individual or entity.
Follow the freezing procedures for funds, financial assets, or economic resources as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
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 list is from the UN Security Council's 1267 Committee, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs via a note dated May 5, 2010. The full consolidated list is available on the UN website.
What action is required for existing accounts?
Banks must scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is held by or linked to any entity or individual on the updated list. If found, freezing procedures as per the September 17, 2009 circular must be followed.
What is the legal basis for this requirement?
The UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009, as referenced in RBI's circular of September 17, 2009, provides the legal framework. Banks must ensure meticulous compliance with that Order.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/451
DBOD. AML.No. 19050/14.06.068/2009-10
May 6, 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.18349/14.06.067/2009-10 dated April 27, 2010 . We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) copy of note dated May 5, 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,
(Vinay Baijal)
Chief General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/451 · issued 06 May 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Example: if you are a Compliance officer 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 Updates: Banks Must Screen Accounts” is: “Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities as per the UN 1267/1822 changes received from the Government of India.” (RBI issued this 06 May 2010).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/451 -- UN Terror List Updates: Banks Must Screen Accounts
Issued: 06 May 2010
Action required: Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities as per the UN 1267/1822 changes received from the Government of India.
Action required: Before opening any new account, verify the proposed customer's name against the updated list.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is held by or linked to any listed individual or entity.
Action required: Follow the freezing procedures for funds, financial assets, or economic resources as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
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=5658&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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