UN Terror List Update: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Compliance
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2009-10/463 · issued 12 May 2010 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has circulated the latest UNSC 1267 Committee updates to the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against this list and follow UAPA Order procedures for freezing assets.
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 and Taliban) using the new list from the UN, which was sent by the government on May 11, 2010.
Before opening a new account, check the customer's name against this list. If the name is on the list, do not open the account.
Check all existing accounts to see if any belong to or are linked to anyone on the list. If found, freeze (lock) their money and assets.
Follow the special rules from the UAPA Order (a government law against terrorism) from August 27, 2009, and the RBI's instructions from September 17, 2009, to freeze accounts properly.
The bank's Compliance Officer (the person who makes sure rules are followed) must tell the RBI they got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a compliance officer at a bank in Mumbai, receives this circular. He immediately updates the bank's computer system with the new UN list of terrorists. Then, he runs a check on all existing accounts and finds one that matches a name on the list. He freezes that account's money and follows the UAPA Order steps to report it to the government, ensuring his bank follows the law.
What changed
RBI received a May 11, 2010 note from the Government of India forwarding changes made by the UN Security Council's 1267 Committee to the Consolidated List of individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. This circular updates the previous list circulated on May 6, 2010 and requires banks to incorporate these changes into their screening processes.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists with the revised UN consolidated list and ensure no new account is opened for any listed individual/entity. Existing accounts must be scanned to identify and freeze any linked accounts, following the detailed procedures in the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009 and RBI's September 17, 2009 circular.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UNSC 1267 Committee consolidated list available on the UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding any customer.
Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure your Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to RBI.
Who it affects
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions
❓ Common questions
Where can we find the complete updated list of terrorist individuals/entities?
The full consolidated list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml. Banks should refer to this source for the most current details.
What action is required if we find an existing account linked to a listed entity?
You must immediately freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources held in that account, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 6 of RBI's circular dated September 17, 2009.
Do we need to acknowledge receipt of this circular?
Yes, the Compliance Officer or Principal Officer of your institution should acknowledge receipt of this circular letter to RBI.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2009-10/463
DBOD. AML.No.19433 /14.06.069/2009-10
May 12, 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.19050/14.06.068/2009-10 dated May 6, 2010 . We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) copy of note dated May 11, 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/2009-10/463 · issued 12 May 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding any customer.
📜 Compliance
Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UNSC 1267 Committee consolidated list available on the UN website.
Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure your Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to RBI.
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, All India Financial Institutions), your first concrete step on “UN Terror List Update: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Compliance” is: “Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UNSC 1267 Committee consolidated list available on the UN website.” (RBI issued this 12 May 2010).
Circular: RBI/2009-10/463 -- UN Terror List Update: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Compliance
Issued: 12 May 2010
Action required: Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UNSC 1267 Committee consolidated list available on the UN website.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding any customer.
Action required: Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Action required: Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Action required: Ensure your Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to RBI.
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=5675&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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