UAPA Section 51-A: UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List Update
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/573 · issued 23 May 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs banks to update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list, screen new and existing accounts against it, and freeze assets of designated individuals/entities as per UAPA 1967 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 list from the UN website.
Before opening any new account, check the customer's name against this list to make sure they are not on it.
Review all existing accounts to see if any are linked to people or groups on the list.
If a customer is on the list, freeze their money and assets following the steps in the September 17, 2009 circular.
The Compliance Officer must say they received this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A KYC & compliance officer in Indore receives this circular and immediately updates the bank's sanctions list from the UN website. The next day, when a new customer applies for a gold loan, the officer screens the name against the updated list and finds no match, so she proceeds with the account opening. She also reviews the bank's existing accounts and discovers one linked to a newly listed entity, so she freezes that account's funds as per the RBI's September 2009 instructions.
What changed
RBI received a May 18, 2012 note from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee with changes to the Al-Qaida Sanctions List. Banks must update their records with this revised list and ensure compliance with the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists with the latest UN Al-Qaida designations. All new account openings require name screening against this list, and existing accounts must be reviewed to identify any linked to listed entities. Freezing of funds and assets must follow the detailed steps in RBI's September 17, 2009 circular.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to newly listed individuals or entities.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of designated persons as per paragraph 6 of 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 sanctions list?
The list is from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee Al-Qaida Sanctions List, available on the UN website.
What action is required for existing accounts?
Banks must scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is held by or linked to any entity or individual on the updated list.
How should freezing of assets be handled?
Freezing of funds, financial assets, or economic resources in bank accounts of designated individuals/entities must follow the procedure in paragraph 6 of RBI circular dated September 17, 2009.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/573
DBOD. AML.No.17477/14.06.001/2011-12
May 23, 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. 17198/14.06.001/2011-12 dated May 16, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copy of note dated May 18, 2012 ( copy enclosed ) forwarded by the Chairman of UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee 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/2011-12/573 · issued 23 May 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 from the UN website.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to newly listed individuals or entities.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of designated persons as per paragraph 6 of 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 latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.” (RBI issued this 23 May 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/573 -- UAPA Section 51-A: UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List Update
Issued: 23 May 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.
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 newly listed individuals or entities.
Action required: Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of designated persons as per paragraph 6 of 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=7232&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.