UAPA Section 51-A: UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List Update
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/558 · issued 11 May 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates banks to update and screen against the latest UN Al-Qaida sanctions list under UAPA, 1967. New accounts must be checked, existing accounts scanned, and any matches frozen per earlier procedures.
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 internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List
Screen new accounts against the updated list before onboarding [to prevent new accounts from people or groups linked to Al-Qaida]
Scan existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list [to find and freeze accounts of individuals or entities linked to Al-Qaida]
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of any matched individuals/entities [to prevent them from using the banking system]
How it plays out — a real example
A compliance officer in Mumbai will update the bank's internal sanctions database with the new UN list and then screen all new account applications against it, while also scanning existing accounts to identify any matches, and if a match is found, freeze the account as per the regulatory procedures to prevent any potential terrorism financing.
What changed
RBI has circulated an updated Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, received via the Ministry of External Affairs. Banks must replace the previous list with this new version and apply the same compliance steps.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions screening databases with the latest UN list. Failure to identify and freeze accounts of designated individuals or entities could lead to regulatory action and reputational risk. This reinforces the government's commitment to counter-terrorism financing.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions list with the new UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of any matched individuals/entities as per the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure the 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 list?
The list is 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?
Scan all existing accounts to ensure none are held by or linked to any individual or entity on the updated list.
Where can I find the complete 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/2011-12/558
DBOD. AML.No.16946/14.06.001/2011-12
May 11, 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. 16849/14.06.001/2011-12 dated May 10, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copy of note dated May 9, 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,
(Thomas Mathew)
General Manager
Encl: as above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/558 · issued 11 May 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 list with the new UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of any matched individuals/entities as per the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure the 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 Section 51-A: UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List Update” is: “Update your internal sanctions list with the new UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.” (RBI issued this 11 May 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/558 -- UAPA Section 51-A: UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List Update
Issued: 11 May 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions list with the new UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Action required: Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of any matched individuals/entities as per the September 17, 2009 circular.
Action required: Ensure the 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=7207&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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