Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/563 · issued FY 2011-12 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates banks to update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list and screen all new and existing accounts against it, ensuring no accounts are linked to designated individuals or entities, with strict compliance to UAPA 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
Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Freeze funds and assets of matched accounts as per the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009.
How it plays out — a real example
Amit, a compliance officer in Mumbai, receives the updated Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the RBI and immediately updates their internal database. When a new customer, Rohan, applies for an account, Amit screens his name against the list and finds a match. Amit freezes Rohan's account and informs the RBI about the action taken, following the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009.
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 now use this revised list for account screening and freezing actions, replacing the previous list from the May 11, 2012 circular.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists and screen all new account openings against the latest UN list. Existing accounts must be scanned to identify and freeze any linked to newly designated individuals or entities, following the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory action and reputational risk.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the provided UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Freeze funds and assets of matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure compliance officers acknowledge receipt of this circular to RBI.
Who it affects
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The list is from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee's Al-Qaida Sanctions List, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs.
What actions are required for existing accounts?
Banks must scan all existing accounts to ensure none are held by or linked to individuals or entities on the updated list, and freeze any such accounts as per the UAPA Order.
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/2011-12/563
DBOD. AML.No.17198 /14.06.001/2011-12
May 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. 16946/14.06.001/2011-12 dated May 11, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copy of note dated May 10, 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/2011-12/563 · issued FY 2011-12. 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 database with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the provided UN website.
Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Freeze funds and assets of matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure compliance officers acknowledge receipt of this circular to RBI.
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, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers), your first concrete step on “UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List” is: “Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the provided UN website.” (RBI issued this FY 2011-12).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/563 -- UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List
Issued: FY 2011-12
Action required: Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the provided UN website.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Action required: Freeze funds and assets of matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Action required: Ensure compliance officers acknowledge receipt of this circular to RBI.
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=7217&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.
Help us keep this accurate
Found an inaccuracy or have an improvement? Tell us. Every report is reviewed by our team before any change is made — nothing goes live unverified.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗
BANKPULSE · FREE DAILY BRIEF
Get RBI updates for your role
Every important RBI update, decoded in plain English — for your career, exams & financial awareness.
We collect only your email, name and role, used solely to send your brief — never sold or shared. Withdraw anytime via the unsubscribe link in any email. Independent platform, not affiliated with the RBI. Information, not legal advice.
REPORT AN ERROR · BETA
Spotted an error? Earn 500 BankPulse Credits
Help us stay accurate. If your correction is verified true and approved by our founder, you earn 500 BankPulse Credits — redeemable when the platform monetises.
Reviewed by a human before any credit is awarded. We never change the site from crowd input without verification.
WANT A NEW FEATURE · BETA
What would make BankPulse more useful for you?
Tell us what to build next — a tool, a data view, a role page, anything. We read every suggestion.
Thank you — your ideas directly shape what we build.