Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/614 · issued 20 Jun 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all State/Central Co-operative Banks and RRBs to update their records with the latest UN Al-Qaida sanctions list, screen new accounts against it, and review existing accounts for matches, as per UAPA 1967 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 your bank's list of bad people (sanctions list) with the newest UN Al-Qaida list from the UN website.
Before opening any new account, check if the person's name is on that list – if yes, do not open the account.
Look at all your existing accounts to see if any match the updated list; if they do, freeze them as per earlier RBI rules.
Your Compliance Officer (the person who makes sure rules are followed) must tell the RBI regional office that they got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a compliance officer at a regional rural bank in Mysore, receives this circular. He immediately updates the bank's screening system with the new UN Al-Qaida list, then checks all new account applications that day—finding no matches. Next, he runs a retrospective scan of 5,000 existing accounts and discovers one account linked to a listed entity; he freezes it following the RBI's freezing procedures and reports it to the RBI regional office.
What changed
RBI has circulated an updated Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, received via the Ministry of External Affairs. Banks must now use this revised list for customer screening and account monitoring.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions databases to include the latest UN-listed individuals and entities. Failure to screen new accounts or review existing ones could lead to regulatory action and non-compliance with anti-money laundering obligations.
What you must do
Update your customer screening systems with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the provided UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Conduct a retrospective review of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in earlier RBI circulars for any matched accounts.
Ensure your Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the respective RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Compliance Officers of these banks
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The list is from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs to RBI.
Do we need to check only new accounts or existing ones too?
Both. You must screen all new accounts before opening and scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is linked to listed individuals or entities.
What action is required if we find a match in an existing account?
Follow the freezing of funds and assets procedures detailed in paragraph 6 of the earlier RBI circulars referenced in the notification.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/614
RPCD.CO RRB.RCB.AML.No.13239/03.05.28(A)/2011-12
June 20, 2012
The Chairmen / CEOs of all State and Central Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural 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.12165/07.02.12/2011-12 dated May 30, 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. All State and Central Co-operative Banks and Regional Rural 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. Banks are advised to strictly follow the procedure laid down in the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009 enclosed to our circular RPCD.CO.RF.AML. BC. No. 34/07.40.00/ 2009-10 dated October 29, 2009 and RPCD.CO.RRB.No.39/03.05.33 (E)/2009-10 dated November 05, 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 shouldbe taken as detailed in paragraph6 of the circulars referred to 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 Regional Office concerned.
Yours faithfully
(I.S.Negi)
General Manager
Encls: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/614 · issued 20 Jun 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update your customer screening systems with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the provided UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
📜 Compliance
Conduct a retrospective review of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in earlier RBI circulars for any matched accounts.
Ensure your Compliance 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 an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Compliance Officers of these banks), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Update for Co-op Banks & RRBs” is: “Update your customer screening systems with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the provided UN website.” (RBI issued this 20 Jun 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/614 -- UAPA Sanctions List Update for Co-op Banks & RRBs
Issued: 20 Jun 2012
Action required: Update your customer screening systems with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the provided UN website.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Conduct a retrospective review of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Action required: Follow the freezing procedures outlined in earlier RBI circulars for any matched accounts.
Action required: Ensure your Compliance 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=7288&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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