Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/111 · issued 04 Jul 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates banks to update and screen against the UN's Al-Qaida Sanctions List under UAPA, 1967. All new and existing accounts must be checked against this list, and any matches must be frozen as per earlier circular 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
Banks must check every new customer against the UN's Al-Qaida list (a list of bad people and groups linked to Al-Qaida) before opening their account.
Banks must also check all existing accounts to see if any match the updated list.
If a match is found, the bank must freeze (lock) that account's money and assets, following the rules from a 2009 circular.
Banks must update their internal list (their own copy of the bad people list) with the latest changes from the UN website.
The bank's Compliance Officer (the person who makes sure rules are followed) must say they got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a KYC & compliance officer in Indore, receives this circular. He immediately updates his bank's internal sanctions list with the new Al-Qaida names from the UN website. Then, before approving a new gold loan for a customer, he screens the applicant's name against the updated list to ensure they are not a designated individual.
What changed
RBI has forwarded the latest updates to the UN Security Council's Al-Qaida Sanctions List, received from the Ministry of External Affairs via notes dated June 28 and July 2, 2012. Banks must now incorporate these changes into their screening processes.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists with the new UN designations and ensure no new accounts are opened for listed individuals or entities. Existing accounts must be scanned, and any linked accounts must be frozen following the procedures in the September 17, 2009 circular.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions database with the latest Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Freeze funds and assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure your Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
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 the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee's Al-Qaida Sanctions List, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs.
What action is required for existing accounts?
Scan all existing accounts to ensure none are held by or linked to any newly designated individuals or entities, and freeze any matches as per earlier RBI instructions.
Where can I find the complete 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
RBI/2012-13/111
DBOD. AML.No.180/14.06.001/2012-13
July 04, 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. 19320/14.06.001/2011-12 dated June 26, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copy of notes dated June 28, 2012 and July 2, 2012 (copies 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/2012-13/111 · issued 04 Jul 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 database with the latest Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.
Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Freeze funds and assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure your Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
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 Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Update: Al-Qaida Designations” is: “Update your internal sanctions database with the latest Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.” (RBI issued this 04 Jul 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/111 -- UAPA Sanctions List Update: Al-Qaida Designations
Issued: 04 Jul 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions database with the latest Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN website.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Conduct a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Action required: Freeze funds and assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Action required: Ensure your Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
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=7423&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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