Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/117 · issued 05 Jul 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all Primary Urban Co-operative Banks to update the UNSCR 1988 sanctions list, screen new and existing accounts against it, and follow UAPA freezing procedures. Compliance must be acknowledged to the regional office.
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 update their list of bad people (sanctions list) with new names from the government notes dated June 1 and June 11, 2012.
Before opening a new account, check the customer's name against this updated list to make sure they are not on it.
Check all existing accounts to see if any belong to or are linked to people or groups on the list.
If you find a match, freeze (lock) that account's money and assets following the rules from the November 16, 2009 circular.
The Compliance Officer (person in charge of following rules) must tell the RBI regional office that they got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A co-operative bank branch officer in Indore, Priya, receives this circular and immediately updates her bank's internal sanctions list with the new Taliban-linked names. She then screens every new gold-loan application against the list, and also runs a scan of all existing loan accounts. When she finds a match on an old account, she freezes the funds as per the November 2009 procedure, ensuring her bank stays compliant.
What changed
RBI has circulated updated UNSCR 1988 (2011) sanctions list entries from the Government of India, dated June 1 and June 11, 2012, adding or modifying individuals and entities linked to the Taliban. Banks must now use this updated list for account screening and freezing actions.
What it means for you
Urban co-operative banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists and ensure no new accounts are opened for listed entities. Existing accounts must be scanned, and any matches must be frozen as per the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009, following the procedures in the November 16, 2009 circular.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UNSCR 1988 entries from the enclosed government notes.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals or entities.
Freeze funds and assets of matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Ensure the Compliance Officer or Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the concerned RBI regional office.
Who it affects
Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of these banks
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The list is from the UN Security Council's 1988 (2011) Committee, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs via notes dated June 1 and June 11, 2012.
What action is required if an existing account matches the list?
Banks must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources in that account, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Do we need to report compliance to RBI?
Yes, the Compliance Officer or Principal Officer must send an acknowledgment of receipt of this circular to the concerned RBI regional office.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/117
UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No.2 /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 1988
(2011) Sanctions List – Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Please refer to our circular UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No.38/14.01.062/2011-12 dated June 01, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copies of notes dated June 01, 2012 and June 11, 2012 (copies enclosed) forwarded by the Chairman of UN Security Council’s 1988 (2011) 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/2012-13/117 · 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 UNSCR 1988 entries from the enclosed government notes.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals or entities.
Freeze funds and assets of matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Ensure the Compliance Officer or Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the concerned 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 (Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of these banks), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Update for Urban Co-op Banks” is: “Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UNSCR 1988 entries from the enclosed government notes.” (RBI issued this 05 Jul 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/117 -- UAPA Sanctions List Update for Urban Co-op Banks
Issued: 05 Jul 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UNSCR 1988 entries from the enclosed government notes.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals or entities.
Action required: Freeze funds and assets of matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Action required: Ensure the Compliance Officer or Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the concerned 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=7429&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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