Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/501 · issued 16 Apr 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs banks to update 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
Update your bank's internal sanctions list with the newest UN Al‑Qaida list (list of people or groups the world says you cannot do business with).
Before opening any new account, check the applicant's name against this list to make sure they are not on it.
Scan all existing accounts for any names that match the list; if a match is found, freeze (stop) the money and assets as required by the UAPA (law that lets the government freeze money of bad guys) order of August 27 2009.
The Compliance Officer (person in charge of following rules) must sign off that they have received this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
Rohit Sharma, the compliance officer at a State Bank of India branch in Mumbai, receives the RBI circular, updates the bank's sanctions database, runs the new customer screening software for every person applying for a savings account, and then runs a nightly scan of all existing accounts. When the system flags a match, Rohit promptly freezes the account’s funds and logs the action, feeling confident that the bank is following the RBI’s instructions.
What changed
RBI received updated Al-Qaida sanctions list from UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee via Ministry of External Affairs. Banks must now incorporate these changes into their screening processes.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists and screen all new account openings against the revised UN list. Existing accounts must be scanned to identify any matches, and if found, funds and assets must be frozen as per the UAPA order of August 27, 2009.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UN Al-Qaida list changes.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Scan all existing accounts to detect any linked to newly designated individuals/entities.
Freeze funds and assets of matched accounts following the procedure in RBI circular dated September 17, 2009.
Ensure your Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
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 comes from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, forwarded by India's 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 any newly designated individuals or entities, and freeze assets if found.
Where can I find the complete sanctions list?
The full list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/aq_sanctions_list.shtml.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/501
DBOD. AML. No. 15434/14.06.001/2011-12
April 16, 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 1267(1999) / 1989(2011) Committee's
Al Qaida Sanctions List
Please refer to our circular DBOD. AML No. 15291/14.06.001/2011-12 dated April 13, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copy of note dated April 13, 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. 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/1267/aq_sanctions_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/2011-12/501 · 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 onboarding.
📜 Compliance
Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UN Al-Qaida list changes.
Scan all existing accounts to detect any linked to newly designated individuals/entities.
Freeze funds and assets of matched accounts following the procedure in RBI circular dated September 17, 2009.
Ensure your Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
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 Sanctions List Update: Al-Qaida Designations” is: “Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UN Al-Qaida list changes.” (RBI issued this 16 Apr 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/501 -- UAPA Sanctions List Update: Al-Qaida Designations
Issued: 16 Apr 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UN Al-Qaida list changes.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to detect any linked to newly designated individuals/entities.
Action required: Freeze funds and assets of matched accounts following the procedure in RBI circular dated September 17, 2009.
Action required: Ensure your Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
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=7130&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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