UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List Now
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/181 · issued 30 Aug 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates banks to update and screen against the latest UN Al-Qaida sanctions list under UAPA, 1967. Freeze accounts of listed individuals/entities and ensure no new accounts are opened for them.
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 list of bad guys (sanctions list) with the newest names from the UN Al-Qaida list.
Before letting anyone open a new account, check if their name is on the updated list.
Look at all existing accounts to see if any belong to people or groups on the list.
If you find a match, freeze their money and assets right away, following the government's rules (UAPA).
The compliance officer must say 'yes, we got this' (acknowledge receipt) of the RBI circular.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a branch operations officer in Indore, gets the RBI circular about the updated Al-Qaida sanctions list. He immediately updates his bank's internal database with the new names, then screens all pending loan applications and existing gold-loan accounts. He finds no matches, but feels relieved knowing his bank is following the rules to stop terrorist financing.
What changed
RBI has circulated updated Al-Qaida sanctions list based on UNSC 1267/1989 Committee changes as per notes dated July 5, July 20, July 27, and August 29, 2012. Banks must now incorporate these updates into their customer screening processes.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists with the new UN entries and screen all existing and new accounts. Non-compliance with UAPA orders could lead to regulatory action. This reinforces the government's commitment to counter-terrorism financing.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions database with the latest Al-Qaida list as circulated by Reserve Bank.
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 and financial assets of any matched individuals/entities as per UAPA procedure.
Ensure compliance officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
Who it affects
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The list is from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee Al-Qaida Sanctions List, available on the UN website.
What action is required for existing accounts matching the list?
Banks must freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of designated individuals/entities as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Who should acknowledge receipt of this circular?
The Compliance Officer or Principal Officer of the bank or institution must acknowledge receipt.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/181
DBOD.AML.No. 3396/14.06.001/2012-13
August 30, 2012
The Chairmen / CEOs of all Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding RRBs)/
Local Area Banks / All India Financial Institutions
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 DBOD. AML No. 180/14.06.001/2012-13 dated July 4, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division, copy of notes dated July 5, 2012 , July 20, 2012 , July 27, 2012 and August 29, 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. Banks/All India Financial Institutions 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 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.
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 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. Compliance Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular.
Yours faithfully,
(S. K. Jha)
General Manager
Encl: as above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/181 · issued 30 Aug 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 database with the latest Al-Qaida list as circulated by Reserve Bank.
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 procedure.
Ensure compliance officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
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 Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions), your first concrete step on “UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List Now” is: “Update your internal sanctions database with the latest Al-Qaida list as circulated by Reserve Bank.” (RBI issued this 30 Aug 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/181 -- UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List Now
Issued: 30 Aug 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions database with the latest Al-Qaida list as circulated by Reserve Bank.
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 and financial assets of any matched individuals/entities as per UAPA procedure.
Action required: Ensure compliance officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
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=7534&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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