UAPA Section 51A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for RRBs & Co-op Banks
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/454 · issued 19 Mar 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, verify customer names against this list; also scan existing accounts for matches. Strictly follow UAPA procedures for freezing assets of designated entities.
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 your bank’s sanctions database with the newest UN Al‑Qaida list from the UN website.
Before opening a new account, check the customer’s name against that list to make sure it isn’t there.
Scan all existing accounts to find any matches with the list.
If a match is found, freeze the account right away and follow the RBI UAPA procedures (circulars of Oct 29 2009 and Nov 5 2009).
The Compliance Officer must acknowledge receipt of this circular to the RBI Regional Office.
How it plays out — a real example
A gold‑loan officer in Indore, Ravi, receives a request to open a new account for a customer named ‘Mohamed Al‑Khaled’. He checks the updated UN Al‑Qaida list, finds the name, and immediately freezes the account, following the RBI UAPA guidelines. Ravi then reports the action to the bank’s Compliance Officer, who acknowledges the circular to the RBI Regional Office.
What changed
RBI has communicated an update to the UN Security Council's Al-Qaida Sanctions List, received via the Ministry of External Affairs. This supersedes the previous list circulated on March 12, 2012. Banks must now use this updated list for all customer screening and compliance actions.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately incorporate the revised sanctions list into their account opening and ongoing monitoring processes. Failure to identify and freeze accounts linked to listed individuals/entities could lead to regulatory penalties. This reinforces the government's commitment to combating terrorist financing under UAPA, 1967.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions screening database with the latest UN Al-Qaida list from the UN website.
Before opening any new account, verify the proposed customer's name against the updated list.
Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
If a match is found, immediately freeze the account and follow the procedure outlined in RBI circulars of October 29, 2009 and November 5, 2009.
Ensure your Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges 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 / 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 (Al-Qaida Sanctions List), forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs. The full list is available on the UN website.
What action is required if an existing account matches the list?
You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources in that account immediately, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 6 of the earlier RBI circulars dated October 29, 2009 and November 5, 2009.
Do we need to acknowledge receipt of this circular?
Yes, the 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/2011-12/454
RPCD.CO RRB.RCB.AML.No.9304 /03.05.28(A)/2011-12
March 19, 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 the UNSCR 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) Committee's Al-Qaida Sanctions List
Please refer to our circular RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.AML.NO.8993 /07.02.12 /2011-12 dated March 12, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copy of note dated March 12, 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 the 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 letter to our Regional Office concerned.
Yours faithfully
(I.S.Negi)
General Manager
Encls: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/454 · issued 19 Mar 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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 / Principal Officers of these banks), your first concrete step on “UAPA Section 51A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for RRBs & Co-op Banks” is: “Update your internal sanctions screening database with the latest UN Al-Qaida list from the UN website.” (RBI issued this 19 Mar 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/454 -- UAPA Section 51A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for RRBs & Co-op Banks
Issued: 19 Mar 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions screening database with the latest UN Al-Qaida list from the UN website.
Action required: Before opening any new account, verify the proposed customer's name against the updated list.
Action required: Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Action required: If a match is found, immediately freeze the account and follow the procedure outlined in RBI circulars of October 29, 2009 and November 5, 2009.
Action required: Ensure your Compliance Officer/Principal 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
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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=7073&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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