Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/578 · issued 29 May 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all State/Central Co-operative Banks and RRBs to update their records with the latest UNSCR 1988 Taliban sanctions list, screen new and existing accounts, and comply with UAPA freezing 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
Co-op banks and RRBs (small rural banks) must add the newest Taliban names from the UN list to their 'no-go' customer list.
Before opening any new account, check the customer's name against this updated list to make sure they are not a banned person or group.
Check all existing accounts to see if any belong to or are linked to someone on the list.
If you find a matching account, freeze it (stop all transactions) right away, following the government's 2009 freezing rules.
The compliance officer must send a receipt confirmation to the RBI (Reserve Bank of India) office in their region.
How it plays out — a real example
A compliance officer at a Regional Rural Bank in rural Maharashtra receives this RBI circular. She immediately updates the bank's sanctions database with the three new UN list changes from March and May 2012. Then she runs a fresh scan of all 5,000 existing customer accounts and finds one farmer's account matches a newly listed Taliban-linked entity. She freezes the account that same day, following the UAPA freezing procedures, and sends an acknowledgment to the RBI Regional Office.
What changed
RBI has forwarded three new UN updates (dated March 2, March 19, and May 18, 2012) to the 1988 Sanctions List of individuals/entities linked to the Taliban. Banks must now incorporate these changes into their customer screening processes.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists and ensure no new accounts are opened for listed entities. Existing accounts must be scanned for matches, and any identified accounts must be frozen as per the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory action.
What you must do
Update your sanctions database with the latest UNSCR 1988 list changes from the enclosed MEA notes.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Freeze any matched accounts immediately following the procedures in earlier RBI circulars.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Compliance Officers / Principal Officers of these banks
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The updates come from the UN Security Council's 1988 Committee, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs via notes dated March 2, March 19, and May 18, 2012.
What action is required if we find a match in an existing account?
You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources in that account as per paragraph 6 of the earlier RBI circulars referenced in the notification.
Where can we access the full sanctions list?
The complete list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1988/list.shtml.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/578
RPCD.CO RRB.RCB.AML.No.12140/03.05.28(A)/2011-12
May 29, 2012
The Chairmen/CEOs of all State and Central Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural Banks
Dear Sir,
Implementation of Section 51-A of UAPA, 1967-
Updates of the UNSCR 1988 (2011) Sanctions List
Please refer to our circular RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.No.8357/07.02.12/2011-12 dated February 22, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copies of notes dated March 2, 2012 , March 19, 2012 and May 18, 2012 (copies enclosed) forwarded by the Chairman of UN Security Council's 1988 Committee regarding changes made in the “1988 Sanctions List”, i.e. list of Individuals and entities linked to Taliban, as detailed in the enclosed notes.
2. All State and Central Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural Banks are required to update the list of individuals/entities as circulated by the 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 RPCD.CO.RF.AML. BC. No. 34/07.40.00/ 2009-10 dated October 29, 2009 and RPCD.CO.RRB.No.39/03.05.33 (E)/2009-10 dated November 05, 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 circulars referred to in paragraph 3 above.
5. The complete details of the said list are available on the UN website:
http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1988/list.shtml
6. Compliance Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this letter to our Regional Office concerned.
Yours faithfully
(I.S.Negi)
General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/578 · issued 29 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 sanctions database with the latest UNSCR 1988 list changes from the enclosed MEA notes.
Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Freeze any matched accounts immediately following the procedures in earlier RBI circulars.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office.
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 (State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Compliance Officers / Principal Officers of these banks), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Update for Co-op Banks & RRBs” is: “Update your sanctions database with the latest UNSCR 1988 list changes from the enclosed MEA notes.” (RBI issued this 29 May 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/578 -- UAPA Sanctions List Update for Co-op Banks & RRBs
Issued: 29 May 2012
Action required: Update your sanctions database with the latest UNSCR 1988 list changes from the enclosed MEA notes.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Action required: Freeze any matched accounts immediately following the procedures in earlier RBI circulars.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office.
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=7242&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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