UAPA Compliance: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for Urban Co-op Banks
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/584 · issued 30 May 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks to update their records with the latest UN Al-Qaida sanctions list, 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
Add the seven new UN notes (Feb‑Apr 2012) that list people and groups linked to Al‑Qaida to the bank’s own sanctions database (the list of bad people).
Check every new customer against this updated list before opening an account (screen means look up).
Re‑check all existing customers; if any match the new list, freeze that account (stop it from being used) following the rules in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Send a confirmation to the Regional Office through the Compliance Officer to show that the circular has been followed.
How it plays out — a real example
Riya, a compliance officer at a primary urban co‑operative bank in Mumbai, receives the RBI circular. She updates the bank’s sanctions database with the seven new UN notes, screens a new applicant named Ahmed and finds no match, but later discovers that an existing customer, Mr. Khan, is on the list. Riya freezes Mr. Khan’s account following the freezing steps in paragraph 7 of the 2009 circular and sends a confirmation to the Regional Office through the Compliance Officer. The bank stays compliant and avoids penalties.
What changed
RBI forwarded seven UN notes from February to April 2012 updating the Al-Qaida sanctions list. Urban co-operative 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 verify that no new or existing customer matches the updated UN designations. Failure to comply could lead to regulatory action and reputational risk.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions database with the seven UN notes (Annex I to VII) from February-April 2012.
Screen all new account applications against the updated Al-Qaida list before opening accounts.
Review all existing accounts to identify and freeze any linked to listed individuals or entities.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office through the Compliance Officer.
Who it affects
Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers, Principal Officers
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The list comes from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs via seven notes dated between February 23 and April 13, 2012.
What action is required for existing accounts?
Banks must scan all existing accounts to ensure none are held by or linked to any entity or individual on the updated Al-Qaida sanctions list.
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
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/584 · issued 30 May 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account applications against the updated Al-Qaida list before opening accounts.
📜 Compliance
Update your internal sanctions database with the seven UN notes (Annex I to VII) from February-April 2012.
Review all existing accounts to identify and freeze any linked to listed individuals or entities.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office through the Compliance 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 (Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers, Principal Officers), your first concrete step on “UAPA Compliance: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for Urban Co-op Banks” is: “Update your internal sanctions database with the seven UN notes (Annex I to VII) from February-April 2012.” (RBI issued this 30 May 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/584 -- UAPA Compliance: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for Urban Co-op Banks
Issued: 30 May 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions database with the seven UN notes (Annex I to VII) from February-April 2012.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated Al-Qaida list before opening accounts.
Action required: Review all existing accounts to identify and freeze any linked to listed individuals or entities.
Action required: Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office through the Compliance 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=7248&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.