Update on UN Terrorist List: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2010-11/557 · issued 03 Jun 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs banks to update their consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban based on four new UN 1267 Committee notes received from the Government of India. 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 four new notes from the UN, sent by the Indian government.
Before opening a new account, check if the customer's name is on the updated list; if yes, do not open the account.
Check all existing accounts to see if any belong to people on the list; if found, freeze their money (stop them from using it).
Follow the government's UAPA Order (a rule for freezing terrorist assets) from August 27, 2009, and the steps in the RBI circular from September 17, 2009.
How it plays out — a real example
A KYC & compliance officer in Indore receives this RBI circular. She immediately updates her bank's computer system with the four new UN notes, then screens all new loan applicants against the list. Later, she scans existing gold-loan accounts and finds one linked to a newly listed entity; she freezes that account, stopping any withdrawals or new loans, following the UAPA Order procedures.
What changed
RBI has forwarded four new UN Security Council 1267 Committee notes (dated May 4, 11, 16, and 27, 2011) that update the consolidated list of individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban. Banks must incorporate these changes into their existing screening lists and ensure compliance with the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal databases with the revised UN sanctions list to avoid onboarding or servicing prohibited entities. Failure to screen accounts properly could lead to regulatory action and reputational risk. The circular reinforces the need for strict adherence to anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing protocols.
What you must do
Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the four new UN notes received from the Ministry of External Affairs.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Scan all existing accounts to identify and freeze any accounts linked to newly listed individuals/entities.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular and the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009.
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 updates come from four notes issued by the UN Security Council's 1267 Committee in May 2011, forwarded by the Government of India's Ministry of External Affairs.
Do we need to freeze accounts immediately?
Yes, if any existing account is found linked to a newly designated individual or entity, you must freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources as per the procedure in paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Where can we find the complete consolidated list?
The full list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/consolist.shtml.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2010-11/557
DBOD. AML.No.18819/14.06.001/2010-11
June 3, 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.16832 /14.06.001/2010-11 dated May 2, 2011 . We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) copies of following notes forwarded by the Chairman of UN Security Council's 1267 Committee (copies enclosed) regarding changes made in the Consolidated List of Individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban:
Note dated May 4, 2011 ( Annex I )
Note dated May 11, 2011 ( Annex II )
Note dated May 16, 2011 ( Annex III )
Note dated May 27, 2011 ( Annex IV )
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/2010-11/557 · issued 03 Jun 2011. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
📜 Compliance
Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the four new UN notes received from the Ministry of External Affairs.
Scan all existing accounts to identify and freeze any accounts linked to newly listed individuals/entities.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular and the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009.
Ensure the 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 “Update on UN Terrorist List: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions” is: “Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the four new UN notes received from the Ministry of External Affairs.” (RBI issued this 03 Jun 2011).
Circular: RBI/2010-11/557 -- Update on UN Terrorist List: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions
Issued: 03 Jun 2011
Action required: Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities with the four new UN notes received from the Ministry of External Affairs.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify and freeze any accounts linked to newly listed individuals/entities.
Action required: Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular and the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009.
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=6451&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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