Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/192 · issued 21 Sep 2011 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs co-operative banks to update their UNSCR 1267 terror list with new Al-Qaida entries from September 2011, screen new and existing accounts, 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
Co-op banks must update their terror watchlist (list of bad people/groups) with new names from the UN's Al-Qaida list from September 2011.
Before opening any new account, check the customer's name against the updated list to make sure they are not on it.
Check all existing accounts to see if any match the updated list, and if so, freeze (stop using) those accounts as per government rules.
Follow the freezing steps from the UAPA (a law against terror) order of August 27, 2009, as told in RBI's October 29, 2009 circular.
The Compliance Officer (person in charge of following rules) must tell the RBI regional office that they got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A compliance officer at a co-op bank in Pune receives this circular and immediately updates the bank's internal terror list with the new Al-Qaida names from the UN website. She then runs a check on all new account applications that day and scans the bank's existing accounts, finding no matches, so she sends an acknowledgment to the RBI regional office as required.
What changed
RBI forwarded a September 15, 2011 UN 1267 Committee note with changes to the consolidated list of Al-Qaida-linked individuals and entities. Banks must now incorporate these updates into their screening process.
What it means for you
Co-operative banks must immediately update their internal terror watchlists and cross-check all new and existing accounts against the revised UN list. Failure to comply with UAPA freezing orders could invite regulatory action.
What you must do
Update your consolidated list of UNSCR 1267-designated individuals/entities with the latest changes from the UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009, as detailed in RBI's October 29, 2009 circular.
Have your Compliance/Principal Officer acknowledge receipt of this circular to the concerned RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers of co-operative banks, Principal Officers of co-operative banks
❓ Common questions
Where can we find the latest consolidated list?
The complete list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/aq_sanctions_list.shtml.
What action is required for existing accounts that match the list?
You must freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources as per paragraph 6 of RBI's October 29, 2009 circular, following the UAPA Order.
Do we need to acknowledge receipt of this circular?
Yes, your Compliance Officer or Principal Officer must send an acknowledgment to the concerned RBI Regional Office.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/192
RPCD.CO.RCB.AML.No.3164/07.02.12/2011-12
September 21, 2011
The Chairmen / CEOs of all State and Central Co-operative Banks
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 RPCD.CO.RCB.AML.No.2507/07.02.12/2011-12 dated September 2, 2011 . We have since received from Government of India (Ministry of External Affairs) a copy of the note dated September 15, 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.
2. Banks 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 RPCD.CO.RF.AML. BC. No. 34/07.40.00/ 2009-10 dated October 29, 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 October 29, 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 to our concerned Regional Office.
Yours faithfully,
(I.S.Negi)
General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/192 · issued 21 Sep 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 consolidated list of UNSCR 1267-designated individuals/entities with the latest changes from the UN website.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009, as detailed in RBI's October 29, 2009 circular.
Have your Compliance/Principal Officer acknowledge receipt of this circular to the concerned RBI 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 (State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers of co-operative banks, Principal Officers of co-operative banks), your first concrete step on “Update on UN Terror List for Co-op Banks” is: “Update your consolidated list of UNSCR 1267-designated individuals/entities with the latest changes from the UN website.” (RBI issued this 21 Sep 2011).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/192 -- Update on UN Terror List for Co-op Banks
Issued: 21 Sep 2011
Action required: Update your consolidated list of UNSCR 1267-designated individuals/entities with the latest changes from the UN website.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Action required: Follow the freezing procedures outlined in the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009, as detailed in RBI's October 29, 2009 circular.
Action required: Have your Compliance/Principal Officer acknowledge receipt of this circular to the concerned RBI 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=6724&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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