Home › Circulars › RBI/2011-12/548

PSOs Must Screen Accounts Against Updated Al-Qaida Sanctions List

No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet

Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/548 · issued 09 May 2012 · ~2 min read

Quick answerRBI directs all Payment System Operators to update their records with the latest UN Al-Qaida sanctions list and screen both new and existing accounts for matches, ensuring no linked accounts remain open.

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.

What changed

RBI received from the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division, copies of notes dated March 6, 12, 14, 21, and April 2, 13, 2012, from the Chairman of the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee regarding changes to the Al-Qaida Sanctions List. Payment System Operators must now incorporate these changes into their customer screening processes.

What it means for you

Banks and payment operators must cross-check every new account opening against the updated list and review all existing accounts for any matches. Non-compliance with the UAPA 1967 and RBI's 2009 circular could lead to regulatory action. This reinforces the government's commitment to counter-terrorism financing.

Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.

What banks were required to do at the time

Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida list from the provided UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Conduct a one-time review of all existing accounts to identify and freeze any linked to listed individuals or entities.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 6 of RBI circular DBOD.AML.BC. No. 44/14.01.001/2009-09 dated September 17, 2009.
Ensure your nodal officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to RBI.

Who it affects

All Payment System Operators authorized under PSS Act, 2007, Banks offering payment services, Compliance and AML teams at financial institutions

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Decoded by BankPulse 2026-06-18 20:28 IST
Status change: withdrawn 03 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

What is the source of the updated sanctions list?

The list is maintained by the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee and is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/aq_sanctions_list.shtml.

What should we do if we find an existing account linked to a listed entity?

You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources in that account as per the procedures detailed in paragraph 6 of RBI's circular dated September 17, 2009.

Is this a one-time requirement or ongoing?

This is an ongoing obligation. You must update your lists whenever RBI circulates changes and screen new accounts continuously. The current circular requires an immediate update based on the latest UN changes.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI

RBI/2011-12/548
 DPSS. CO. AD. No. 2058/02.27.005/2011-12 
 May 9, 2012 
 CEOs of all the Payment System Operators Authorised under the PSS Act, 2007
 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 DPSS.CO.AD.No 1892 /02.27.005/2011-12 dated April 12, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copies of notes dated March 6, 2012 , March 12, 2012 , March 14, 2012 , March 21, 2012 , April 2, 2012 and April 13, 2012 forwarded by the Chairman of UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee (copies enclosed) regarding changes made in the “Al-Qaida Sanctions List”, i.e. list of Individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida.
 2. All the Payment System Operators (PSOs) are required to update the lists 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, PSOs 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. All the PSOs are advised to strictly follow the procedure laid down in the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009 enclosed to the Reserve Bank 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.  The said circular is available on our website www.rbi.org.in .
 4. As far as freezing of funds, financial assets or economic resources or related services held in the form of 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. Nodal Officer/Principal Officer may acknowledge receipt of this circular.
 Yours faithfully
 (Nilima Ramteke )
 General Manager
 Encl: As above

Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/548 · issued 09 May 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.

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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=7197&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.