Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/318 · issued 21 Dec 2010 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates banks to update UNSC 1267/1822 sanctions list with new entries from Government of India. Before opening accounts, verify customers aren't on the list; scan existing accounts for matches. Follow UAPA Order 2009 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 add 8 new UN notes (from August to December 2010) to their list of bad people and groups linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban.
Before opening a new account, check if the customer's name is on this list.
Scan all existing accounts to see if any belong to someone on the list.
If you find a match, freeze their money and assets following the steps in RBI's September 17, 2009 circular.
Your Compliance Officer must tell RBI they got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A KYC & compliance officer in Indore receives this circular. She updates her bank's sanctions list with the 8 new UN notes, then screens all new loan applicants against it. She also runs a one-time check on existing gold-loan accounts and finds a match—she immediately freezes that account's funds as per the 2009 circular.
What changed
RBI received eight UN Security Council notes (dated Aug 6 to Dec 17, 2010) with changes to the consolidated list of individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. Banks must incorporate these updates into their screening processes immediately.
What it means for you
Banks face heightened compliance risk—any failure to screen new or existing accounts against the updated list could lead to regulatory action. Freezing of funds must follow the detailed steps in RBI's September 17, 2009 circular. This is a recurring obligation; expect periodic list updates.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions list with the eight new UN notes (Annex I–VIII) from the circular.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Run a one-time scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the list.
For any matched accounts, freeze funds/assets 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
What is the source of the updated list?
The list comes from UN Security Council Resolution 1267 (1999) and 1822 (2008) via the Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs). RBI has forwarded eight notes from the UN 1267 Committee with changes.
Do I need to freeze accounts immediately if a match is found?
Yes, but follow the specific procedure in paragraph 6 of RBI's circular dated September 17, 2009 (DBOD.AML.BC. No. 44/14.01.001/2009-10), which details freezing of funds, financial assets, or economic resources.
How often will this list be updated?
The circular covers eight updates from August to December 2010. RBI will continue to forward changes from the UN 1267 Committee as received from the Government of India.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/318
DBOD. AML.No.9636/14.06.081/2010-11
December 21, 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.9042/14.06.080/2010-11 dated December 8, 2010 . We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) copy of following notes 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:
Note dated December 17, 2010 ( Annex I )
Note dated December 16, 2010 ( Annex II )
Note dated December 1 , 2010 ( Annex III )
Note dated November 4 , 2010 ( Annex IV )
Note dated October 21 , 2010 ( Annex V )
Note dated September 28 , 2010 ( Annex VI )
Note dated September 13 , 2010 ( Annex VII )
Note dated August 6 , 2010 ( Annex VIII )
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,
(Rachna Dikshit)
Deputy General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/318 · issued 21 Dec 2010. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
📜 Compliance
Update your internal sanctions list with the eight new UN notes (Annex I–VIII) from the circular.
Run a one-time scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the list.
For any matched accounts, freeze funds/assets 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 “UNSC 1267 Sanctions List Updates for Banks” is: “Update your internal sanctions list with the eight new UN notes (Annex I–VIII) from the circular.” (RBI issued this 21 Dec 2010).
Circular: RBI/2010-11/318 -- UNSC 1267 Sanctions List Updates for Banks
Issued: 21 Dec 2010
Action required: Update your internal sanctions list with the eight new UN notes (Annex I–VIII) from the circular.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Run a one-time scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the list.
Action required: For any matched accounts, freeze funds/assets 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=6155&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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