UAPA Sanctions List Update for RRBs and Co-op Banks
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/500 · issued 16 Apr 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs RRBs and cooperative banks to update UN Al-Qaida sanctions list, screen new and existing accounts, and follow UAPA freezing procedures. Compliance officers must acknowledge receipt to regional offices.
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 list of bad people and groups linked to Al-Qaida (a dangerous group) using the new changes from the UN (United Nations) that RBI (Reserve Bank of India) sent you.
Before opening any new account, check the customer's name against this updated list to make sure they are not on it.
Check all existing accounts to see if any belong to or are linked to people or groups on the list, and if so, freeze (lock) those accounts as per the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) rules.
Your Compliance Officer (the person who makes sure rules are followed) must tell the RBI regional office that you got this circular (official letter).
How it plays out — a real example
A co-operative bank branch officer in Indore, Priya, receives this RBI circular. She immediately updates her bank's sanctions list with the new UN Al-Qaida names. Before approving a new gold loan for a customer, she screens the name against the list and finds no match. She also scans her existing loan accounts and discovers one linked to a listed entity, so she freezes that account as per UAPA procedures, ensuring her bank stays compliant.
What changed
RBI has forwarded new UN Security Council updates to the Al-Qaida Sanctions List, received from the Ministry of External Affairs via notes dated March 21 and April 2, 2012. Banks must now incorporate these changes into their customer screening processes.
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 for matches, and any linked accounts must be frozen as per UAPA Order procedures. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory action.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List changes from the enclosed notes.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals/entities and freeze them as per UAPA guidelines.
Ensure compliance with the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009, and related RBI circulars from 2009.
Have your Compliance Officer/Principal 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
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The updates come from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee's Al-Qaida Sanctions List, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs.
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 UAPA Order procedures.
Who must 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/2011-12/500
RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.AML.No.10422/07.02.12/2011-12
April 16, 2012
The Chairmen / CEOs of all Regional Rural Banks/
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.9439/03.05.28 (A)/ 2011-12 dated March 21, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copies of notes dated March 21, 2012 and April 2, 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/2011-12/500 · issued 16 Apr 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 Al-Qaida Sanctions List changes from the enclosed notes.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals/entities and freeze them as per UAPA guidelines.
Ensure compliance with the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009, and related RBI circulars from 2009.
Have your Compliance Officer/Principal 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 a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers), 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 Al-Qaida Sanctions List changes from the enclosed notes.” (RBI issued this 16 Apr 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/500 -- UAPA Sanctions List Update for RRBs and Co-op Banks
Issued: 16 Apr 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List changes from the enclosed notes.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals/entities and freeze them as per UAPA guidelines.
Action required: Ensure compliance with the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009, and related RBI circulars from 2009.
Action required: Have your Compliance Officer/Principal 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=7129&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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