UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for RRBs & Co-op Banks
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/130 · issued 12 Jul 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs RRBs and co-op banks to update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list, screen new and existing accounts, and freeze assets of designated individuals/entities per 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.
The rule, in the simplest words
Banks must update their computer systems with the new UN Al-Qaida sanctions list (a list of bad people and groups linked to Al-Qaida).
Before opening any new account, check the customer's name against this list to make sure they are not on it.
Check all existing accounts to see if any belong to or are linked to anyone on the updated list.
If you find a match, immediately freeze (block) all their money and assets in the bank, following the government's rules.
The compliance officer (the person in charge of following rules) must tell the RBI regional office that they got this message.
How it plays out — a real example
A payments & clearing officer in Indore, Priya, receives this RBI circular. She immediately updates her bank's computer system with the new UN Al-Qaida list. Later that day, when a customer applies for a gold loan, Priya checks his name against the list and finds no match, so she proceeds. She also runs a scan of all existing loan accounts and finds none linked to the list, ensuring her bank is fully compliant.
What changed
RBI has forwarded updates to the UNSCR 1267 Al-Qaida Sanctions List received from the Ministry of External Affairs. Banks must now incorporate these changes into their customer screening processes and ensure no accounts are linked to newly listed entities.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal AML/KYC databases with the revised UN sanctions list. Failure to screen new accounts or identify existing linked accounts could lead to regulatory action. The freeze order under UAPA Section 51-A applies to all funds and financial assets of designated persons.
What you must do
Update the UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List in your AML screening systems using the UN website link provided.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Freeze funds and financial assets of any matched individuals/entities as per UAPA Order procedures.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers / Principal Officers of these banks
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The list is the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee Al-Qaida Sanctions List, updated as per notes dated June 28 and July 2, 2012, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs.
What action is required for existing accounts that match the list?
Banks must freeze all funds, financial assets, or economic resources held in such accounts, following the procedure in paragraph 6 of earlier UAPA circulars.
Where can I find the complete sanctions 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/2012-13/130
RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.AML.No.358/07.02.12/2012-13
July 12, 2012
The Chairmen / CEOs of all Regional Rural Banks/
State and Central Co-operative Banks
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 RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.AML.No.13499/07.02.12/2011-12 dated June 27, 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. All Regional Rural Banks / State and Central 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. Banks are advised to strictly follow the procedure laid down in the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009 enclosed to our circular RPCD.CO.RRB.No.39/03.05.33 (E)/2009-10 dated November 05, 2009 and RPCD.CO.RF.AML. BC. No. 34/07.40.00/ 2009-10 dated October 29, 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 circulars mentioned in paragraph 3 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 letter to our concerned Regional Office.
Yours faithfully,
(Lily Vadera)
General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/130 · issued 12 Jul 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update the UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List in your AML screening systems using the UN website link provided.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
📜 Compliance
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Freeze funds and financial assets of any matched individuals/entities as per UAPA Order procedures.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your 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 an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers / Principal Officers of these banks), your first concrete step on “UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for RRBs & Co-op Banks” is: “Update the UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List in your AML screening systems using the UN website link provided.” (RBI issued this 12 Jul 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/130 -- UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for RRBs & Co-op Banks
Issued: 12 Jul 2012
Action required: Update the UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List in your AML screening systems using the UN website link provided.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list.
Action required: Freeze funds and financial assets of any matched individuals/entities as per UAPA Order procedures.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your 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=7447&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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