RRBs: Updated UN Terrorist List Compliance Mandate
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/116 · issued 22 Jul 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs RRBs to update their consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities per UNSCR 1267/1822 changes. Before opening new accounts and for existing ones, RRBs must screen against this list and freeze assets of designated entities as per UAPA Order 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
RRBs (Regional Rural Banks) must update their list of bad people/groups linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban using the UN website and RBI (Reserve Bank of India) circular.
Before opening a new account, check the customer's name against this updated list to make sure they are not on it.
Check all existing accounts to see if any are linked to people or groups on the list.
If you find a match, freeze (stop all use of) their money and assets right away, following the rules from the November 5, 2009 circular.
The Compliance Officer must tell the RBI Regional Office that they got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A payments & clearing officer in Indore, Priya, receives the RBI circular and immediately updates her bank's terrorist list from the UN website. Before approving a new gold loan for a customer, she screens the name against the list and finds no match, so she proceeds. Later, she scans all existing loan accounts and discovers one linked to a newly listed entity; she freezes that account's funds and reports it to her compliance officer, following the UAPA Order procedures.
What changed
RBI has forwarded a new UN Security Council 1267 Committee note (dated July 19, 2011) with changes to the consolidated list of Al-Qaida and Taliban-linked individuals and entities. RRBs must now update their internal lists accordingly and ensure compliance with the latest additions.
What it means for you
RRBs face heightened scrutiny to prevent any account being linked to newly designated terrorists. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory action. The circular reinforces the need for rigorous KYC/AML checks and immediate freezing of assets for listed entities, impacting operational processes.
What you must do
Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities using the UN website and RBI circular.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening.
Scan all existing accounts to identify and report any matches with the list.
Freeze funds and financial assets of designated individuals/entities as per paragraph 6 of the November 5, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective Regional Office.
Who it affects
All Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Compliance Officers / Principal Officers of RRBs, Branch managers handling account opening and AML checks
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated list?
The list is based on changes made by the UN Security Council's 1267 Committee, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs. The full consolidated list is available on the UN website.
What action is required for existing accounts?
RRBs must scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is held by or linked to any individual or entity on the updated list. If found, freeze assets as per the UAPA Order procedures.
Who should acknowledge receipt of this circular?
The Compliance Officer or Principal Officer of each RRB must acknowledge receipt to the concerned Regional Office of RBI.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/116
RPCD.CO RRB.AML.No.816 /03.05.28(A)/2011-12
July 22, 2011
The Chairmen
All Regional Rural Banks (RRBs)
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 RPCD.CO.RRB.AML.NO.15003 /03.05.28 (A)/2010-11 dated June 28, 2011 . We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) copy of note dated July 19, 2011 forwarded by the Chairman of UN Security Council's 1267 Committee ( copy enclosed ) regarding changes made in the Consolidated List of Individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida and Taliban.
2. RRBs 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 of the proposed customer does not appear in the list. Further, RRBs 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. RRBs are advised to strictly follow the procedure laid down in the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009 enclosed to our circular RPCD . CO. RRB. No. 39 / 03.05.33(E) /2009-10 dated November 05, 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 November 05, 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 letter to our Regional Office concerned.
Yours faithfully
(I.S.Negi)
General Manager
Encls: as above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/116 · issued 22 Jul 2011. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening.
📜 Compliance
Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities using the UN website and RBI circular.
Scan all existing accounts to identify and report any matches with the list.
Freeze funds and financial assets of designated individuals/entities as per paragraph 6 of the November 5, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective Regional Office.
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 Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Compliance Officers / Principal Officers of RRBs, Branch managers handling account opening and AML checks), your first concrete step on “RRBs: Updated UN Terrorist List Compliance Mandate” is: “Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities using the UN website and RBI circular.” (RBI issued this 22 Jul 2011).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/116 -- RRBs: Updated UN Terrorist List Compliance Mandate
Issued: 22 Jul 2011
Action required: Update the consolidated list of terrorist individuals/entities using the UN website and RBI circular.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify and report any matches with the list.
Action required: Freeze funds and financial assets of designated individuals/entities as per paragraph 6 of the November 5, 2009 circular.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective Regional Office.
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=6620&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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