UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for Co-op & RRBs
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/381 · issued 01 Feb 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all State/Central Co-operative Banks and RRBs to update their records with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List. Before opening new accounts and when reviewing existing ones, banks must ensure no customer is on this list and follow the 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
Update the bank's internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al‑Qaida Sanctions List (the newest list of people and groups linked to Al‑Qaida) from the UN website.
Before opening any new account, check that the customer's name is NOT on this list.
Run a fresh scan of all existing accounts to see if any match the updated list.
If a match is found, immediately freeze the account and follow the UAPA (law for preventing terrorism) freezing procedures.
The Compliance Officer must acknowledge receipt of the RBI circular to the RBI regional office.
How it plays out — a real example
Ramesh Kumar, the compliance officer at a State Co‑operative Bank in Jaipur, receives the RBI circular, updates the bank’s screening system with the new UN list, checks a new loan applicant named Ahmed Khan against it and finds no match, then runs a scan of all old accounts, discovers an old account belonging to a name on the list, instantly freezes that account and follows the UAPA freezing steps, and sends an acknowledgement to the RBI regional office, feeling confident he has done everything right.
What changed
RBI has forwarded a January 26, 2012 update from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee to the Al-Qaida Sanctions List. This supersedes the previous list circulated via circulars dated January 5-6, 2012. Banks must now use this updated list for all customer screening.
What it means for you
Co-operative banks and RRBs must immediately update their internal sanctions screening systems with the revised UN list. Failure to identify a match could lead to regulatory action. The circular reinforces that the same UAPA Order procedures for freezing assets apply to these newly added or modified entries.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
If a match is found, immediately freeze the account and follow the UAPA Order procedures as per earlier RBI circulars.
Have your Compliance Officer acknowledge receipt of this circular to the respective RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Compliance Officers of these banks
❓ Common questions
Where can I find the complete updated Al-Qaida Sanctions List?
The full consolidated list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/aq_sanctions_list.shtml.
What action should I take if an existing customer matches the updated list?
You must immediately freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources held in that account, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 6 of the earlier UAPA circulars referenced in this notification.
Do I need to confirm receipt of this circular to RBI?
Yes, the Compliance Officer or Principal Officer must send an acknowledgment of receipt to the concerned RBI Regional Office.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/381
RPCD.CO.RCB.AML.No.7695/07.02.12/2011-12
February 1, 2012
The Chairmen / CEOs of all State and Central Co-operative Banks and
Regional Rural Banks
Dear Sir,
Implementation of Section 51-A of UAPA, 1967-
Updates of UNSCR 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) Committee's Al-Qaida Sanctions List
Please refer to our circular RPCD.CO.RCB.AML.No.6764/07.02.12/2011-12 dated January 06, 2012 and RPCD.CO.RRB.AML.No.6723/03.05.28(A)/2011-12 dated January 5, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copy of note dated January 26, 2012 forwarded by the Chairman of UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee ( copy enclosed ) regarding changes made in the “Al-Qaida Sanctions List”, i.e. list of Individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida.
2. State and Central Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural Banks are required to update the 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 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 circulars mentioned in paragraph 3 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/2011-12/381 · issued 01 Feb 2012. 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 internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.
Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
If a match is found, immediately freeze the account and follow the UAPA Order procedures as per earlier RBI circulars.
Have your Compliance Officer acknowledge receipt of this circular to the respective 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, Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), Compliance Officers of these banks), your first concrete step on “UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for Co-op & RRBs” is: “Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.” (RBI issued this 01 Feb 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/381 -- UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for Co-op & RRBs
Issued: 01 Feb 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Action required: If a match is found, immediately freeze the account and follow the UAPA Order procedures as per earlier RBI circulars.
Action required: Have your Compliance Officer acknowledge receipt of this circular to the respective 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=6982&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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