Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/236 · issued 09 Oct 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs Primary Urban Co-operative Banks to update their UNSCR 1988 sanctions list with new Taliban-linked entries. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against this list and freeze assets of designated individuals/entities as per UAPA procedures.
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 Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs) must update their list of bad people linked to the Taliban using the new UN list from June 27 and July 2, 2012.
Before opening any new account, check the customer's name against this updated list to make sure they are not on it.
Check all existing accounts to see if any match the updated list, and if found, freeze their money and assets following the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) rules.
The complete list is on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1988/list.shtml, and banks must use it for screening.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a compliance officer at a Primary Urban Co-operative Bank in Surat, receives this RBI circular. He immediately updates the bank's screening system with the new Taliban-linked names from the UN list. The next day, when a new customer applies for an account, Ravi's system flags the name as a match, so he rejects the application and freezes any related existing accounts as per UAPA procedures.
What changed
RBI has circulated updated UNSCR 1988 sanctions list entries received from the Ministry of External Affairs, based on UN Security Council Committee changes via notes dated June 27, 2012 and July 2, 2012. This updates the list previously circulated in circular dated July 05, 2012 and requires UCBs to incorporate the new additions into their screening processes.
What it means for you
UCBs must immediately update their internal sanctions databases with the revised list and ensure no new accounts are opened for listed individuals/entities. Existing accounts must be scanned for matches, and any identified accounts must be frozen following the UAPA Order procedures. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory action.
What you must do
Update your sanctions screening system with the latest UNSCR 1988 list from the UN website or enclosed updates
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list
Freeze funds and assets of any matched accounts as per UAPA Order procedures
Compliance Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular to the Regional Office concerned
Who it affects
Primary Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs), Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of UCBs, Branch managers handling account opening and KYC
❓ Common questions
Where can we find the complete updated sanctions list?
The full list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1988/list.shtml. RBI has also enclosed the specific updates from June 27 and July 2, 2012 with this circular.
What action is required if we find a match in an existing account?
You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources held in that account, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 7 of RBI circular dated November 16, 2009, as per the UAPA Order.
Is this applicable only to new accounts or also existing ones?
Both. You must ensure no new account is opened for listed individuals/entities, and you must scan all existing accounts to identify and freeze any linked accounts.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/236
UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No.15/14.01.062/2012-13
October 09, 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 1988 (2011) Sanctions List – Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Please refer to our circular UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No.2/14.01.062/2012-13 dated July 05, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division, copy 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. 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/1988/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/2012-13/236 · issued 09 Oct 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update your sanctions screening system with the latest UNSCR 1988 list from the UN website or enclosed updates
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening
📜 Compliance
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list
Freeze funds and assets of any matched accounts as per UAPA Order procedures
Compliance Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular to the Regional Office concerned
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 (Primary Urban Co-operative Banks (UCBs), Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of UCBs, Branch managers handling account opening and KYC), your first concrete step on “UNSCR 1988 Sanctions List Update for UCBs” is: “Update your sanctions screening system with the latest UNSCR 1988 list from the UN website or enclosed updates” (RBI issued this 09 Oct 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/236 -- UNSCR 1988 Sanctions List Update for UCBs
Issued: 09 Oct 2012
Action required: Update your sanctions screening system with the latest UNSCR 1988 list from the UN website or enclosed updates
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list
Action required: Freeze funds and assets of any matched accounts as per UAPA Order procedures
Action required: Compliance Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular to the Regional Office concerned
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=7607&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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