UN Terror List Update: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Compliance
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/422 · issued 11 Mar 2011 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has circulated an updated UN consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. Banks must screen all 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
Update your bank's internal list with the newest UN 1267 (UN group that tracks Al‑Qaida/Taliban) terrorist individuals and entities list.
Before opening any new account, check the applicant's name against this updated list to make sure it is not on it.
Run a fresh scan of all existing accounts for any matches and, if found, freeze the money or assets as required by the UAPA Order (law that tells banks to block terrorist funds).
The Compliance Officer or Principal Officer must sign off that they have received and understood this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
Rohit, a senior compliance officer at a scheduled commercial bank in Mumbai, receives the RBI circular on March 11, 2011. He updates the bank's screening software with the latest UN 1267 list, runs the system on a new loan applicant and sees a match, so he immediately blocks the account and informs senior management, following the UAPA Order. Later, he also re‑scans all current customers, finds no other matches, and signs the acknowledgment form, feeling confident that the bank is compliant.
What changed
RBI forwarded a March 10, 2011 UN Security Council 1267 Committee note with changes to the consolidated list of Al-Qaida/Taliban-linked individuals and entities. This updates the previous list circulated via circular dated February 11, 2011.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal screening databases with the revised UN list. Failure to identify and freeze accounts of designated entities could lead to regulatory action and reputational risk. The circular reinforces existing obligations under the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009.
What you must do
Update your internal consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the latest UN 1267 Committee changes.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
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.
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 consolidated list?
The full list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml.
What action is required if we find an existing account linked to a listed entity?
You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources held in that account, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Do we need to acknowledge receipt of this circular?
Yes, the Compliance Officer or Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular letter.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/422
DBOD. AML.No.14203 /14.06.001/2010-11
March 11, 2011
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. 12705 /14.06.001/2010-11 dated February 11, 2011 . We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) copy of note dated March 10, 2011 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,
(S. K. Jha)
Deputy General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/422 · issued 11 Mar 2011. 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 consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the latest UN 1267 Committee changes.
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.
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 consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the latest UN 1267 Committee changes.” (RBI issued this 11 Mar 2011).
Circular: RBI/2010-11/422 -- UN Terror List Update: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions Compliance
Issued: 11 Mar 2011
Action required: Update your internal consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the latest UN 1267 Committee changes.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
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.
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=6281&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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