Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/218 · issued 24 Sep 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs Primary UCBs to update UNSCR 1267/1989 Al-Qaida sanctions list, screen new and existing accounts, and follow UAPA freezing procedures as per earlier circulars.
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
Primary UCBs must update their list of bad people and groups linked to Al-Qaida using new names from June 28 and July 2, 2012.
Before opening a new account, check if the customer's name is on the updated list – if yes, do not open the account.
Check all existing accounts to see if any are linked to the newly added names on the list.
If you find a match, freeze the account following the steps in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Tell your Regional Office that you got this circular by sending a note.
How it plays out — a real example
A compliance officer at a Primary UCB in Surat receives this circular. She immediately updates the bank's sanctions list with the new names from June 28 and July 2, 2012. Then she screens all new account applications that day and runs a scan of existing accounts, finding one account linked to a newly listed entity. She follows the freezing steps from the November 2009 circular and reports to her Regional Office.
What changed
RBI forwarded updated UN Security Council Al-Qaida sanctions list entries from June 28 and July 2, 2012, to Primary UCBs. Banks must now incorporate these changes into their customer screening processes.
What it means for you
Primary UCBs must immediately update their internal sanctions lists and verify all new and existing accounts against the revised UN list. Non-compliance with UAPA freezing orders could attract regulatory action.
What you must do
Update the UNSCR 1267/1989 sanctions list with the latest entries from June 28 and July 2, 2012.
Screen all new account openings against the updated list before onboarding.
Scan existing accounts to identify any links to newly added individuals or entities.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office.
Who it affects
Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers, Principal Officers
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The list comes from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs via notes dated June 28 and July 2, 2012.
What action is required for existing accounts?
Banks must scan all existing accounts to ensure none are held by or linked to any individual or entity on the updated sanctions list.
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/2012-13/218
UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No.11/14.01.062/2012-13
September 24, 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 1267 (1999) /1989 (2011) Sanctions List – Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Please refer to our circular UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No.10/14.01.062/2012-13 dated September 18, 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. Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) 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. UCBs 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/1267/aq_sanctions_list.shtml
6. 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/2012-13/218 · issued 24 Sep 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account openings against the updated list before onboarding.
📜 Compliance
Update the UNSCR 1267/1989 sanctions list with the latest entries from June 28 and July 2, 2012.
Scan existing accounts to identify any links to newly added individuals or entities.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your 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, Principal Officers), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Update for Primary UCBs” is: “Update the UNSCR 1267/1989 sanctions list with the latest entries from June 28 and July 2, 2012.” (RBI issued this 24 Sep 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/218 -- UAPA Sanctions List Update for Primary UCBs
Issued: 24 Sep 2012
Action required: Update the UNSCR 1267/1989 sanctions list with the latest entries from June 28 and July 2, 2012.
Action required: Screen all new account openings against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Scan existing accounts to identify any links to newly added individuals or entities.
Action required: Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your 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=7580&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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