Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/123 · issued 11 Jul 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates all State/Central Co-operative Banks and RRBs to update their records with the latest UNSCR 1988 Taliban sanctions list and screen all new and existing accounts against it.
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 internal sanctions list with the latest UNSCR 1988 entries.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Conduct a one-time scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Freeze the account and related assets if a match is found, following procedures outlined in earlier RBI circulars.
How it plays out — a real example
As a co-operative bank branch officer in Indore, Rohan must ensure that no account is opened for or linked to any newly listed individual/entity. He scans all existing accounts and freezes the account of a customer who is found to be linked to a designated individual/entity, following the procedures outlined in earlier RBI circulars.
What changed
RBI has circulated updated UN Security Council 1988 Sanctions List entries (as of June 27 and July 2, 2012) to all co-operative banks and RRBs. Banks must now incorporate these changes into their customer screening processes.
What it means for you
Banks must ensure no account is opened for or linked to any newly listed individual/entity. Existing accounts must be scanned immediately. Freezing of funds and assets must follow the procedures outlined in earlier RBI circulars (dated Oct 29, 2009 and Nov 5, 2009). Non-compliance could attract regulatory action.
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 onboarding.
Conduct a one-time scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
If a match is found, freeze the account and related assets as per paragraph 6 of the referenced 2009 circulars.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office through your Compliance/Principal Officer.
Who it affects
State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Compliance Officers / Principal Officers of these banks
❓ Common questions
What is the UNSCR 1988 Sanctions List?
It is a UN Security Council list of individuals and entities associated with the Taliban, against which member states must apply asset freezes and other financial restrictions.
Do we need to check only new accounts?
No. The circular requires both pre-opening checks for new accounts and a review of all existing accounts to ensure no account is linked to any listed individual or entity.
Where can we find the full updated list?
The complete list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1988/list.shtml. RBI has also enclosed the government notes with the changes.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/123
RPCD.CO RRB.RCB.AML.No. 311/03.05.28(A)/2012-13
July 11, 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 1988 (2011) Sanctions List
Please refer to our circular RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.No.13187/07.02.12/2011-12 dated June 19, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division copies of notes dated June 27, 2012 and July 2, 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. 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/1988/list.shtml
6. Compliance Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this letter to our Regional Office concerned.
Yours faithfully
(Lily Vadera)
General Manager
Encls: as above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/123 · issued 11 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 list with the latest UNSCR 1988 entries from the enclosed government notes.
Conduct a one-time scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
If a match is found, freeze the account and related assets as per paragraph 6 of the referenced 2009 circulars.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office through your Compliance/Principal Officer.
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 (State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Compliance Officers / Principal Officers of these banks), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Update for Co-op & RRBs” is: “Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UNSCR 1988 entries from the enclosed government notes.” (RBI issued this 11 Jul 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/123 -- UAPA Sanctions List Update for Co-op & RRBs
Issued: 11 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 onboarding.
Action required: Conduct a one-time scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Action required: If a match is found, freeze the account and related assets as per paragraph 6 of the referenced 2009 circulars.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office through your Compliance/Principal Officer.
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=7440&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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