UAPA Sanctions List Update for RRBs and Co-op Banks
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/437 · issued 12 Mar 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs RRBs and co-op banks to update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list, screen new and existing accounts, and freeze assets of designated individuals/entities under UAPA, 1967.
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 and groups linked to Al-Qaida (a terrorist network) using the new list from the UN website.
Before opening any new account, check that the customer's name is NOT on that list.
Look at all existing accounts to see if any belong to or are linked to anyone on the list.
If you find a match, freeze that account (stop all money movements) following rules from 2009 RBI circulars.
The Compliance Officer (person in charge of following rules) must tell the RBI regional office that they got this message.
How it plays out — a real example
A payments & clearing officer in a rural co-operative bank in Madurai receives this circular. She immediately updates her computer system with the new Al-Qaida sanctions list from the UN website, then screens all new loan applications that day—rejecting one from a name that matches the list. She also runs a scan of all existing gold-loan accounts and finds none linked to listed individuals, so she breathes easy but files a confirmation to the RBI regional office as instructed.
What changed
RBI updated the Al-Qaida sanctions list per UNSCR 1267/1989 Committee changes received from the Ministry of External Affairs. Banks must now use the revised list for customer screening and account freezing.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists and ensure no new accounts are opened for listed individuals/entities. Existing accounts must be scanned, and any matches must be frozen as per earlier UAPA orders. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory action.
What you must do
Update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list in your systems using the latest UN website version.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before account opening.
Scan all existing accounts to identify and freeze any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Follow the freezing procedures detailed in RBI circulars of October and November 2009.
Have your Compliance Officer acknowledge receipt of this circular to the concerned RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of these banks
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The list is from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee's Al-Qaida Sanctions List, available 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 listed individuals/entities, and freeze any such accounts as per earlier RBI circulars.
Who should acknowledge receipt of this circular?
The Compliance Officer or Principal Officer of the bank must acknowledge receipt to the concerned RBI Regional Office.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/437
RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.AML.No.8993/07.02.12/2011-12
March 12, 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 1267 (1999)/1989 (2011) Committee's
Al-Qaida Sanctions List
Please refer to our circular RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.AML.No.8566/03.05.28(A)/ 2011-12 dated February 27, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copy of note dated March 6, 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. 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 circular RPCD.CO.RRB.No.39/03.05.33(E)/2009-10 dated November 05, 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 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/2011-12/437 · issued 12 Mar 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before account opening.
💻 IT / Systems
Update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list in your systems using the latest UN website version.
📜 Compliance
Scan all existing accounts to identify and freeze any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Follow the freezing procedures detailed in RBI circulars of October and November 2009.
Have your Compliance 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 an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of these banks), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Update for RRBs and Co-op Banks” is: “Update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list in your systems using the latest UN website version.” (RBI issued this 12 Mar 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/437 -- UAPA Sanctions List Update for RRBs and Co-op Banks
Issued: 12 Mar 2012
Action required: Update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list in your systems using the latest UN website version.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before account opening.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify and freeze any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Action required: Follow the freezing procedures detailed in RBI circulars of October and November 2009.
Action required: Have your Compliance 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=7054&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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