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Update on Al-Qaida Sanctions List Under UAPA Section 51-A

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/609 · issued 19 Jun 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs banks to update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list, screen new and existing accounts against it, and follow UAPA freezing procedures. Compliance officers must acknowledge receipt.
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
How it plays out — a real example

A compliance officer in Mumbai will use the updated UN sanctions list to screen new account applicants and freeze existing accounts of banned individuals or groups, following the UAPA law to prevent money laundering, and then acknowledge receipt of the RBI circular to ensure their bank is compliant with the new rules. This helps prevent illegal activities and ensures the bank's safety. The officer will also verify that all existing accounts are scanned and any matches are frozen as per the RBI guidelines.

What changed

RBI issued this circular on June 19, 2012, updating the Al-Qaida Sanctions List based on a May 25, 2012 note from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee. It replaces the earlier list from the May 23, 2012 circular.

What it means for you

Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists and ensure no new accounts are opened for listed individuals/entities. Existing accounts must be scanned, and any matches must be frozen as per the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009.

What you must do

Who it affects

All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions

❓ Common questions

What is the source of the updated sanctions list?

The list is from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee's Al-Qaida Sanctions List, available on the UN website.

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 list.

Who must acknowledge this circular?

The Compliance Officer or Principal Officer of each bank or financial institution must acknowledge receipt.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/609 DBOD. AML.No. 18919/14.06.001/2011-12 June 19, 2012 The Chairmen / CEOs of all Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding RRBs)/ Local Area Banks / All India Financial Institutions 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 DBOD. AML No. 17477/14.06.001/2011-12 dated May 23, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copy of note dated May 25, 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. Banks/All India Financial Institutions 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 DBOD.AML.BC. No. 44/14.01.001/2009-10 dated September 17, 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 circular dated September 17, 2009, mentioned 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. Yours faithfully, (S. K. Jha) General Manager Encl: as above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/609 · issued 19 Jun 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions), your first concrete step on “Update on Al-Qaida Sanctions List Under UAPA Section 51-A” is: “Update the Al-Qaida Sanctions List using the UN website link provided.” (RBI issued this 19 Jun 2012).

  1. Circular: RBI/2011-12/609 -- Update on Al-Qaida Sanctions List Under UAPA Section 51-A
  2. Issued: 19 Jun 2012
  3. Action required: Update the Al-Qaida Sanctions List using the UN website link provided.
  4. Action required: Screen all new account applicants against the updated list before opening accounts.
  5. Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals/entities.
  6. Action required: Freeze funds and assets of designated entities as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
  7. Action required: Ensure Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
  8. Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
  9. Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
  10. 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.

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Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=7282&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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