Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/586 · issued 01 Jun 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks to update their UNSCR 1988 sanctions list with new Taliban-linked entries from March and May 2012, 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
Urban co-op banks must add new Taliban-linked names from March and May 2012 to their watchlist (list of people to check).
Before opening any new account, check the customer's name against the updated watchlist.
Check all existing accounts to see if any match the new watchlist names.
If a match is found, freeze (lock) that account's money and assets following the rules from the November 2009 circular.
The Compliance Officer (person in charge of following rules) must tell the RBI regional office that they got this update.
How it plays out — a real example
Rajesh, a compliance officer at a city co-op bank in Pune, receives this circular. He immediately updates the bank's computer system with the new Taliban-linked names from March and May 2012. Then he runs a check on all existing loan and savings accounts and finds one account belonging to a name on the list. He freezes that account's funds and reports it to the RBI regional office, following the freezing steps from the earlier circular.
What changed
RBI received updated UN Security Council 1988 Committee sanctions list notes dated March 2, March 19, and May 18, 2012, from the Ministry of External Affairs. Banks must incorporate these changes into their existing sanctions screening lists.
What it means for you
Urban co-operative banks must immediately update their customer screening databases with the latest Taliban-linked individuals and entities. Failure to identify and freeze accounts of designated persons could lead to regulatory action and compliance breaches under UAPA.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions list with the new UNSCR 1988 entries from the enclosed MEA notes.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated sanctions list.
Freeze funds and assets of matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office through the Compliance Officer.
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 for existing accounts that match the list?
Banks must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources of such accounts following the procedure in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Where can I find the complete sanctions list?
The full 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/2011-12/586
UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No.38/14.01.062/2011-12
June 01, 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.35/14.01.062/2011-12 dated May 30, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copies of notes dated March 02, 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. 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 complete details of the said list are available on the UN website:
http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1988/list.shtml
6. The Compliance Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular to the Regional Office concerned.
Yours faithfully,
(Scenta Joy)
Deputy General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/586 · issued 01 Jun 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 internal sanctions list with the new UNSCR 1988 entries from the enclosed MEA notes.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated sanctions list.
Freeze funds and assets of matched accounts as per 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, Branch managers handling account opening), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Update for Urban Co-op Banks” is: “Update your internal sanctions list with the new UNSCR 1988 entries from the enclosed MEA notes.” (RBI issued this 01 Jun 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/586 -- UAPA Sanctions List Update for Urban Co-op Banks
Issued: 01 Jun 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions list with the new UNSCR 1988 entries from the enclosed MEA notes.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated sanctions list.
Action required: Freeze funds and assets of matched accounts as per 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=7250&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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