UAPA Sanctions List Update for RRBs and Co-op Banks
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/406 · issued 22 Feb 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs RRBs and co-operative banks to update the UN 1988 Sanctions List (Taliban-linked entities) and screen all new and existing accounts against it, following 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
Banks must update their list of bad people (sanctions list) with the new names from the UN that are linked to the Taliban.
Before opening a new account, check the customer's name against this list. If it matches, do NOT open the account.
Check all existing accounts to see if any belong to someone on the list.
If you find a matching account, freeze it (stop all money movements) as told in earlier RBI rules.
Your Compliance Officer (the person who makes sure rules are followed) must tell the RBI office that they got this update.
How it plays out — a real example
A co-operative bank branch officer in a rural co-operative bank in Uttar Pradesh receives this circular. She immediately updates her computer system with the new UN 1988 Sanctions List. Before approving a new gold loan for a customer, she screens the applicant's name against the list and finds no match, so she proceeds. Later, she scans all existing loan accounts and discovers one account belonging to a name on the list; she freezes that account and reports it to her Compliance Officer.
What changed
RBI has circulated an updated UN 1988 Sanctions List from the Government of India, reflecting changes to individuals and entities linked to the Taliban. Banks must now incorporate this updated list into their customer screening processes.
What it means for you
Banks must ensure no new account is opened for any person or entity on the updated sanctions list, and all existing accounts must be scanned for matches. This reinforces compliance with UAPA, 1967 and the government's August 2009 order, with specific freezing actions required for designated accounts.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN 1988 list from the enclosed MEA note.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Scan all existing customer accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 6 of earlier circulars for any matched accounts.
Ensure your Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the respective RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers of these banks
❓ Common questions
What is the UN 1988 Sanctions List?
It is a list maintained by the UN Security Council's 1988 Committee of individuals and entities associated with the Taliban, subject to asset freezing and other sanctions.
What should we do if we find an existing account matching the list?
You must take action as detailed in paragraph 6 of the earlier circulars (dated October 29, 2009 and November 5, 2009), which includes freezing funds and financial assets.
Where can we access the full updated list?
The complete list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1988/list.shtml.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/406
RPCD.CO.RRB/RCB.No. 8357 /07.02.12/2011-12
February 22, 2012
The Chairmen / CEOs of all Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) /
State and Central Co-operative Banks
Dear Sir,
Implementation of Section 51-A of UAPA,
1967
Updates of the UNSCR 1988 (2011) Sanctions List
Please refer to our circulars RPCD.CO.RRB.AML.No. 7156/03.05.28(A)/2011-12 dated January 18, 2012 and RPCD.CO.RCB.AML.No.7152/07.02.12/2011-12 dated January 19, 2012. 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. All Regional Rural Banks / State and Central Co-operative 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 circulars RPCD. CO. RRB. No.39/03.05.33(E)/2009-10 dated November 5, 2009 and 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 circulars referred to in para 3 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 to our Regional Office concerned.
Yours faithfully,
(I.S. Negi)
General Manager
Encl: as above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/406 · issued 22 Feb 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
📜 Compliance
Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN 1988 list from the enclosed MEA note.
Scan all existing customer accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 6 of earlier circulars for any matched accounts.
Ensure your Compliance Officer acknowledges 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 (Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers of these banks), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Update for RRBs and Co-op Banks” is: “Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN 1988 list from the enclosed MEA note.” (RBI issued this 22 Feb 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/406 -- UAPA Sanctions List Update for RRBs and Co-op Banks
Issued: 22 Feb 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN 1988 list from the enclosed MEA note.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Scan all existing customer accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Action required: Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 6 of earlier circulars for any matched accounts.
Action required: Ensure your Compliance Officer acknowledges 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=7019&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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