UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for RRBs & Co-op Banks
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/580 · issued 30 May 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs RRBs and co-op banks to update their UN Al-Qaida sanctions list with new entries from May 2012. Before opening accounts, verify customers aren't on the list; also scan existing accounts for matches. Freeze assets of designated individuals/entities as per earlier 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
Banks must update their list of bad people linked to Al-Qaida (a dangerous group) with new names from May 2012.
Before opening a new account, check if the customer's name is on that list.
Also check all existing accounts to see if any match the list.
If you find a match, freeze (stop anyone from using) their money or assets right away.
The Compliance Officer (person in charge of following rules) must tell the RBI (India's central bank) that they got this update.
How it plays out — a real example
A payments & clearing officer in Indore at a Regional Rural Bank gets this circular. She updates her bank's computer system with the new Al-Qaida list from the UN website. Then she checks every new customer applying for a gold loan against the list, and also runs a scan of all existing loan accounts to make sure none belong to anyone on the list.
What changed
RBI issued a circular on May 30, 2012, forwarding a UN Security Council Committee update to the Al-Qaida Sanctions List. Banks must incorporate these changes into their customer screening processes. This follows a previous circular from May 25, 2012, and aligns with the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009.
What it means for you
RRBs and co-op banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists to include the latest UN-designated individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida. Failure to screen new and existing accounts against this list could lead to regulatory non-compliance. Banks must also freeze funds and assets of any matched accounts as per earlier UAPA guidelines.
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.
Conduct a retrospective scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the list.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of any matched individuals/entities as per paragraph 6 of earlier circulars.
Ensure your Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the respective RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers/Principal Officers of these banks
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The list is the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee Al-Qaida Sanctions List, available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/aq_sanctions_list.shtml.
What action is required for existing accounts that match the list?
Banks must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources of such accounts, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 6 of the earlier circulars referenced (dated October 29, 2009, and November 5, 2009).
Who needs to acknowledge receipt of this circular?
The Compliance Officer or Principal Officer of each RRB and co-op bank must acknowledge receipt to the concerned RBI Regional Office.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/580
RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.AML.No.12165/07.02.12/2011-12
May 30, 2012
The Chairmen / CEOs of all Regional Rural Banks/
State and Central Co-operative Banks
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 RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.AML.No.12008/07.02.12/ 2011-12 dated May 25, 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. All Regional Rural Banks / State and Central Co-operative Banks 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 RPCD.CO.RRB.No.39/03.05.33 (E)/2009-10 dated November 05, 2009 and RPCD.CO.RF.AML. BC. No. 34/07.40.00/ 2009-10 dated October 29, 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 mentioned in paragraph 3 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 letter to our concerned Regional Office.
Yours faithfully,
(I.S.Negi)
General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/580 · issued 30 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.
Conduct a retrospective scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the list.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of any matched individuals/entities as per paragraph 6 of earlier circulars.
Ensure your Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the 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 (Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers/Principal Officers of these banks), your first concrete step on “UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for RRBs & Co-op Banks” is: “Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.” (RBI issued this 30 May 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/580 -- UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for RRBs & Co-op Banks
Issued: 30 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: Conduct a retrospective scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the list.
Action required: Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of any matched individuals/entities as per paragraph 6 of earlier circulars.
Action required: Ensure your Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the 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=7244&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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