UAPA Compliance: Updated Al-Qaida Sanctions List for Urban Co-op Banks
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/116 · issued 05 Jul 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI has directed all Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks to update their records with the latest UN Al-Qaida sanctions list. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against this list and follow the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009, as per the procedure in the November 16, 2009 circular, for freezing funds, financial assets, or economic resources of designated individuals/entities.
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 use the newest UN Al-Qaida sanctions list (from the UN Security Council) to check customers.
Before opening any new account, banks must make sure the customer's name is NOT on that list.
Banks must also check all existing accounts to see if any are linked to people or groups on the list.
If a match is found, the bank must freeze that account's money, assets, or resources following the rules from a 2009 government order.
The bank's Compliance Officer must tell the RBI regional office that they got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
Meera, a co-operative bank branch officer in Indore, receives the updated Al-Qaida sanctions list from RBI. She immediately screens all new loan applications against it, and also runs a check on her existing gold-loan accounts. She finds no matches, so she breathes easy, but she knows she must keep the list handy for every new customer.
What changed
RBI forwarded an updated Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, based on a note received via the Ministry of External Affairs. This replaces the previous list circulated on June 01, 2012. Banks must now use this updated list for customer screening and account monitoring.
What it means for you
Urban co-operative banks must immediately integrate the new sanctions list into their account opening and ongoing due diligence processes. Failure to identify and freeze accounts linked to listed entities could lead to regulatory action. This reinforces the government's commitment to combating terror financing through the banking system.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida list available on the UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the circular dated November 16, 2009.
Ensure the Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the respective RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of these banks, Customers of urban co-operative banks
❓ Common questions
Where can I find the complete updated Al-Qaida sanctions list?
The full list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/aq_sanctions_list.shtml.
What action should we take if we find an existing account matching the list?
You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources in that account, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 7 of RBI circular dated November 16, 2009.
Do we need to acknowledge receipt of this circular?
Yes, the Compliance Officer or Principal Officer must send an acknowledgment to the concerned RBI Regional Office.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/116
UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No.1/14.01.062/2012-13
July 05, 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 1267 (1999) and 1989 (2011) Committee's Al Qaida Sanctions List – Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Please refer to our circular UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No. 39/14.01.062/2011-12 dated June 01, 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. Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks 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. 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/1267/aq_sanctions_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/2012-13/116 · issued 05 Jul 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
📜 Compliance
Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida list available on the UN website.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the circular dated November 16, 2009.
Ensure the 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 a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of these banks, Customers of urban co-operative banks), your first concrete step on “UAPA Compliance: Updated Al-Qaida Sanctions List for Urban Co-op Banks” is: “Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida list available on the UN website.” (RBI issued this 05 Jul 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/116 -- UAPA Compliance: Updated Al-Qaida Sanctions List for Urban Co-op Banks
Issued: 05 Jul 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida list available on the UN website.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Action required: Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the circular dated November 16, 2009.
Action required: Ensure the 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=7428&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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