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Updated UN Terror List: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/158 · issued 24 Aug 2011 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has circulated updated UN sanctions lists (July 29, Aug 12 & 22, 2011) of terrorist individuals/entities linked to Al-Qaida/Taliban. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against this list and freeze assets 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
How it plays out — a real example

A KYC & compliance officer in Indore, Priya, receives this RBI circular. She immediately updates her bank's computer system with the three new UN lists. Before approving a new gold loan for a customer, she screens the name against the updated list. She also runs a check on all existing loan accounts and finds one linked to a newly listed entity. She freezes that account's funds and reports it to her Compliance Officer, following the procedure from the September 2009 circular.

What changed

RBI forwarded three new UN notes (July 29, Aug 12, Aug 22, 2011) from the 1267 Committee that update the consolidated list of Al-Qaida/Taliban-linked individuals and entities. Banks must replace earlier lists with this updated version and ensure compliance with the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009.

What it means for you

Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions screening databases with the latest UN list. Failure to identify and freeze accounts of designated entities could lead to regulatory action. This circular reinforces the ongoing obligation to check all new and existing customers against the consolidated list.

What you must do

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 the UN Security Council's 1267 Committee, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs via three notes dated July 29, August 12, and August 22, 2011.

Do we need to screen only new accounts?

No. You must screen both new accounts before opening and all existing accounts to ensure none are linked to listed individuals/entities.

What action is required if we find a match?

Follow the freezing procedures detailed in paragraph 6 of RBI circular DBOD.AML.BC. No. 44/14.01.001/2009-10 dated September 17, 2009, as per the UAPA Order.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/158 DBOD. AML. No. 3130 /14.06.001/2011-12 August 24, 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),1822(2008) and 1989(2011) on Taliban/Al-Qaida Organisation Please refer to our circular letter DBOD. AML No. 1106 /14.06.001/2011-12 dated July 20, 2011 .  We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) copies of notes 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, as detailed below: Note dated July 29, 2011     ( Annex I ) Note dated August 12, 2011 ( Annex II ) Note dated  August 22, 2011( Annex III ) 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/aq_sanctions_list.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/2011-12/158 · issued 24 Aug 2011. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
🧰 Tools — save, print, templates & related
Most relevant forCompliance TeamKYC / AML AnalystBranch Operations (Accounts / FD / CASA)Branch Manager — Private Bank / SFBBranch Manager — PSU / Co-op / RRB (sanctioning powers)Teller / Cashier / Customer Service Officer
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Who does what — compliance checklist
💻 IT / Systems
  • Screen all new account applications against the updated consolidated list before onboarding.
📜 Compliance
  • Update your internal sanctions list with the three new UN notes (July 29, Aug 12, Aug 22, 2011) attached to this circular.
  • Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list and report findings.
  • Freeze funds/assets 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 “Updated UN Terror List: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions” is: “Update your internal sanctions list with the three new UN notes (July 29, Aug 12, Aug 22, 2011) attached to this circular.” (RBI issued this 24 Aug 2011).

  1. Circular: RBI/2011-12/158 -- Updated UN Terror List: Al-Qaida/Taliban Sanctions
  2. Issued: 24 Aug 2011
  3. Action required: Update your internal sanctions list with the three new UN notes (July 29, Aug 12, Aug 22, 2011) attached to this circular.
  4. Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated consolidated list before onboarding.
  5. Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list and report findings.
  6. Action required: Freeze funds/assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
  7. Action required: Ensure your Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
  8. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  9. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  10. 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

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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=6682&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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