No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/118 · issued 06 Jul 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates all payment system operators to update UN Al-Qaida sanctions lists, screen new and existing accounts, and freeze assets of designated individuals/entities under UAPA, 1967.
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.
What changed
RBI issued a circular on July 6, 2012, requiring all authorized payment system operators to update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list based on a Government of India notification. Operators must ensure no new accounts are opened for listed individuals/entities and scan existing accounts for matches.
What it means for you
Banks and payment operators must integrate these sanctions lists into their account opening and monitoring processes to comply with anti-terror financing laws. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory action, and operators need to align with the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009, for freezing assets.
Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.
What banks were required to do at the time
Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UN Al-Qaida list from the UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Review all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals or entities.
Freeze funds and assets of matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure nodal officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
Who it affects
All payment system operators authorized under PSS Act, 2007, Banks offering payment services, Compliance and AML teams
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 18:50 IST
Status change: withdrawn03 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the source of the sanctions list I need to use?
The list is the UN Security Council's Al-Qaida Sanctions List, available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/aq_sanctions_list.shtml.
What action should I take if I find a match in existing accounts?
You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources of the matched account, following the procedure in paragraph 6 of RBI circular DBOD.AML.BC. No. 44/14.01.001/2009-10 dated September 17, 2009.
Does this circular replace earlier instructions?
No, it updates the list referenced in circular DPSS.CO.AD.No. 2218 /02.27.005/2011-12 dated June 7, 2012, and reinforces compliance with the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/118
DPSS.CO.AD.No.47/02.27.005/2012-13
July 6, 2012
CEOs of all the Payment System Operators Authorised under the PSS Act, 2007
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
Please refer to our circular DPSS.CO.AD.No. 2218 /02.27.005/2011-12 dated June 7, 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 the Payment System Operators (PSOs) 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, PSOs 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 . A ll the PSOs are advised to strictly follow the procedure laid down in the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009 enclosed to the Reserve Bank 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. The said circular is available on our website www.rbi.org.in
4. As far as freezing of funds, financial assets or economic resources or related services held in the form of 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. Nodal Officer/Principal Officer may acknowledge receipt of this circular.
Yours faithfully
( Nilima Ramteke )
General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/118 · issued 06 Jul 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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=7430&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.
Help us keep this accurate
Found an inaccuracy or have an improvement? Tell us. Every report is reviewed by our team before any change is made — nothing goes live unverified.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗
BANKPULSE · FREE DAILY BRIEF
Get RBI updates for your role
Every important RBI update, decoded in plain English — for your career, exams & financial awareness.
We collect only your email, name and role, used solely to send your brief — never sold or shared. Withdraw anytime via the unsubscribe link in any email. Independent platform, not affiliated with the RBI. Information, not legal advice.
REPORT AN ERROR · BETA
Spotted an error? Earn 500 BankPulse Credits
Help us stay accurate. If your correction is verified true and approved by our founder, you earn 500 BankPulse Credits — redeemable when the platform monetises.
Reviewed by a human before any credit is awarded. We never change the site from crowd input without verification.
WANT A NEW FEATURE · BETA
What would make BankPulse more useful for you?
Tell us what to build next — a tool, a data view, a role page, anything. We read every suggestion.
Thank you — your ideas directly shape what we build.