Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/582 · issued 30 May 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates urban co-op banks to update UNSCR 1988 sanctions lists for Taliban-linked entities, screen new and existing accounts, and follow 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
Update the UNSCR 1988 sanctions list with eight new notes from July 2011 to February 2012.
Screen new and existing accounts against the updated list to prevent opening accounts for listed individuals/entities.
Freeze funds and assets of designated individuals/entities as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office via the Compliance Officer/Principal Officer.
How it plays out — a real example
As a co-operative bank branch officer in Indore, I must ensure that our bank's internal sanctions list is updated with the new UNSCR 1988 notes. Before opening a new account for a customer, I will screen their name against the updated list to prevent any Taliban-linked individuals from accessing our services. If a match is found, I will freeze their funds and assets as per the RBI circular.
What changed
RBI circulated eight UN Security Council notes from July 2011 to February 2012 updating the 1988 Sanctions List of individuals and entities linked to the Taliban. Urban co-operative banks must incorporate these updates into their screening processes.
What it means for you
Banks must ensure no new account is opened for any listed individual/entity and scan existing accounts for matches. Compliance with the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009, and earlier circulars is mandatory, including freezing of funds and assets as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions list with the eight annexes from the UNSCR 1988 Committee notes.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Review all existing accounts to identify and report any matches with the sanctions list.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular for any designated individuals/entities.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office via the Compliance Officer/Principal Officer.
Who it affects
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of urban co-op banks
❓ Common questions
What is the 1988 Sanctions List?
It is a UN Security Council list of individuals and entities associated with the Taliban, updated periodically. Banks must screen customers against this list.
What action is required for existing accounts?
Banks must scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is held by or linked to any listed individual or entity, and take freezing actions as per earlier RBI circulars.
Who should acknowledge receipt of this circular?
The Compliance Officer or Principal Officer of the bank must send an acknowledgment to the concerned Regional Office of RBI.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/582
UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir.No.35/14.01.062/2011-12
May 30, 2012
The Chief Executive Officer of
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Madam/Dear Sir,
Implementation of Section 51-A of UAPA, 1967- Updates of the UNSCR 1988 (2011) Sanctions List – Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Please refer to our circular UBD.CO.BPD (PCB) Cir. No.20/14.01.062/2011-12 dated March 01, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copies of notes forwarded by the Chairman of UN Security Council’s 1988 Committee (copies enclosed) regarding changes made in the ‘1988 Sanctions List’, i.e. list of individuals and entities linked to Taliban, as detailed below:
Note dated July 5, 2011 ( Annex I )
Note dated July 18, 2011 ( Annex II )
Note dated July 29, 2011 ( Annex III )
Note dated August 16, 2011 ( Annex IV )
Note dated October 4, 2011 ( Annex V )
Note dated November 29, 2011 ( Annex VI )
Note dated January 6, 2012 ( Annex VII )
Note dated February 14, 2012 ( Annex VIII )
2. Primary (Urban) Co-operative 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. Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks are advised to strictly follow the procedure laid down in the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009 enclosed to our circular UBD.CO.BPD. PCB.Cir. No. 21/12.05.001/2009-10 dated November 16, 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 7 of the circular dated November 16, 2009, mentioned above.
5. The Compliance Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular to the Regional Office concerned.
Yours faithfully,
(M. Nanda Kumar)
General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/582 · 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 eight annexes from the UNSCR 1988 Committee notes.
Review all existing accounts to identify and report any matches with the sanctions list.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular for any designated individuals/entities.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office via the Compliance Officer/Principal Officer.
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 Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of urban co-op banks), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Updates for Urban Co-op Banks” is: “Update your internal sanctions list with the eight annexes from the UNSCR 1988 Committee notes.” (RBI issued this 30 May 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/582 -- UAPA Sanctions List Updates for Urban Co-op Banks
Issued: 30 May 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions list with the eight annexes from the UNSCR 1988 Committee notes.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Review all existing accounts to identify and report any matches with the sanctions list.
Action required: Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular for any designated individuals/entities.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office via the Compliance Officer/Principal Officer.
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=7246&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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