PSOs must update UN terror list and screen customers
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/443 · issued 23 Mar 2011 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all payment system operators to update the consolidated UN terror list and screen new and existing customers against it, ensuring no accounts are linked to listed individuals or entities.
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.
What changed
RBI issued a circular on March 23, 2011, requiring PSOs to update the consolidated list of individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban as per UN Security Council resolutions. PSOs must check new customers against this list and scan existing accounts for matches.
What it means for you
Banks and payment operators must integrate this list into their customer onboarding and ongoing monitoring processes. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory action, and freezing of assets must follow the procedure in the September 2009 circular.
Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.
What banks were required to do at the time
Update your internal systems with the latest consolidated UN terror list from the UN website.
Screen all new customers against the list before opening accounts or offering services.
Scan all existing accounts to identify and report any matches with listed individuals or entities.
Follow the freezing procedure outlined in paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular for any matches.
Ensure your nodal officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
Who it affects
All payment system operators authorized under the PSS Act, 2007, Banks and financial institutions offering payment services, Compliance and AML teams
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-19 02:11 IST
Status change: withdrawn03 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What list do we need to check customers against?
The consolidated list of individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban, maintained by the UN Security Council's 1267 Committee, available on the UN website.
What action is required for existing accounts?
Scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is held by or linked to any listed individual or entity, and follow the freezing procedure from the September 2009 circular if needed.
Who should acknowledge receipt of this circular?
The nodal officer or principal officer of the payment system operator must acknowledge receipt.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/443
DPSS. CO. AD. No. 2181/02.27.005/2010-11
March 23, 2011
All Payment System Operators Authorised under the PSS Act, 2007
Dear Sir
List of Terrorist Individuals/ Organisations under UNSCR 1267(1999)
and 1822(2008) on Taliban/Al-Qaida Organisation
Please refer to our circular DPSS.CO.AD.No. 2068/02.27.005/2010-11 dated March 10, 2011 on the captioned subject. We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) a copy of notes 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. All the payment system operators (PSOs) are required to update the consolidated list of individuals/entities as circulated by Reserve Bank and before opening any new account/registering or offering service to new customer, it should be ensured that the name/s of the proposed customer does not appear in the list. Further, PSOs 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. You are advised to strictly follow the procedure laid down in the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009 enclosed to the Reserve Bank 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. The said circular is available on our website www.rbi.org.in .
4. As far as freezing of funds, financial assets or economic resources or related services held in the form of bank accounts, etc. 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. Nodal Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular letter.
Yours faithfully,
(K. Sivaraman )
General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/443 · issued 23 Mar 2011. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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=6303&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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