UAPA Section 51-A: Update UNSCR 1988 Sanctions List
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/405 · issued 21 Feb 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs banks to update the UNSCR 1988 Taliban sanctions list, screen new and existing accounts, and freeze assets of designated individuals/entities per UAPA 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 UNSCR 1988 sanctions list with the latest changes from the UN website.
Screen all new account openings against the updated list before onboarding.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Freeze funds and assets of designated entities as per paragraph 6 of the circular dated September 17, 2009.
Ensure compliance with the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009, and acknowledge receipt via Compliance Officer.
How it plays out — a real example
As a KYC & compliance officer in Indore, I need to verify the identity of a new customer before lending them money against their gold. I check the UNSCR 1988 sanctions list to ensure the customer's name is not on it. If it is, I must freeze their assets and report it to the authorities. I also need to scan our existing customers' accounts to identify any links to listed individuals or entities.
What changed
RBI received a February 14, 2012 note forwarded by the Chairman of the UN 1988 Committee with changes to the Taliban sanctions list. Banks must update their records with this revised list and ensure compliance with earlier UAPA orders.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions databases to include the latest UNSCR 1988 list additions. Failure to screen new accounts or identify existing linked accounts could lead to regulatory action. The freeze on funds and assets must follow the detailed steps from the September 17, 2009 circular.
What you must do
Update the UNSCR 1988 sanctions list with the latest changes from the UN website.
Screen all new account openings against the updated list before onboarding.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Freeze funds and assets of designated entities as per paragraph 6 of the circular dated September 17, 2009.
Ensure compliance with the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009, and acknowledge receipt via Compliance Officer.
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 sanctions list?
The list is from the UN Security Council's 1988 Committee, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs. Full details are on the UN website.
What action is required for existing accounts?
Banks must scan all existing accounts to ensure none are held by or linked to any entity or individual on the updated list.
How should freezing of assets be handled?
Freezing of funds, financial assets, or economic resources should follow the procedure detailed in paragraph 6 of RBI circular dated September 17, 2009.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/405
DBOD. AML. No.12441/14.06.001/2011-12
February 21, 2012
The Chairmen / CEOs of all Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding RRBs)/
Local Area Banks / All India Financial Institutions
Dear Sir,
Implementation of Section 51-A of UAPA, 1967
Updates of the UNSCR 1988(2011) Sanctions List
Please refer to our circular DBOD. AML.. No. 10614/14.06.001/2011-12 dated January 17, 2011 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copy of note dated February 14, 2012 forwarded by the Chairman of UN Security Council's 1988 Committee ( copy enclosed ) regarding changes made in the “1988 Sanctions List”, i.e. list of Individuals and entities linked to Taliban.
2. Banks/All India Financial Institutions 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 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 list are available on the UN website:
http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1988/list.shtml
6. Compliance Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular.
Yours faithfully,
(S. K. Jha)
Deputy General Manager
Encl: as above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/405 · issued 21 Feb 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account openings against the updated list before onboarding.
📜 Compliance
Update the UNSCR 1988 sanctions list with the latest changes from the UN website.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Freeze funds and assets of designated entities as per paragraph 6 of the circular dated September 17, 2009.
Ensure compliance with the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009, and acknowledge receipt via Compliance Officer.
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 “UAPA Section 51-A: Update UNSCR 1988 Sanctions List” is: “Update the UNSCR 1988 sanctions list with the latest changes from the UN website.” (RBI issued this 21 Feb 2012).
Action required: Update the UNSCR 1988 sanctions list with the latest changes from the UN website.
Action required: Screen all new account openings against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Action required: Freeze funds and assets of designated entities as per paragraph 6 of the circular dated September 17, 2009.
Action required: Ensure compliance with the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009, and acknowledge receipt via Compliance Officer.
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=7014&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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