Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/237 · issued 09 Oct 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all Primary Urban Co-operative Banks to update their records with the latest UNSCR 1988 sanctions list for individuals/entities linked to the Taliban. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against this list and freeze assets as per earlier UAPA guidelines.
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 (2011) changes.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding customers.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list and report findings.
Freeze funds and economic resources of any matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A co-operative bank branch officer in Indore must ensure that the name of a new customer does not appear in the updated list of individuals and entities linked to the Taliban before approving their loan application. If a match is found, the officer must freeze the customer's funds and report the findings to the Regional Office.
What changed
RBI has forwarded new updates to the UNSCR 1988 (2011) sanctions list, received from the Ministry of External Affairs via notes dated July 19, August 13, and August 15, 2012. These updates include changes to the list of individuals and entities associated with the Taliban. UCBs are now required to incorporate these changes into their compliance checks.
What it means for you
UCBs must immediately update their internal sanctions screening systems with the revised UN list. Failure to identify and freeze accounts of designated entities could lead to regulatory action. This reinforces the government's commitment to combating terrorism financing and requires banks to maintain rigorous KYC and transaction monitoring processes.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UNSCR 1988 (2011) changes provided in the enclosed notes.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding customers.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list and report findings.
Freeze funds and economic resources of any matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective Regional Office through the Compliance Officer.
Who it affects
Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers of UCBs, Principal Officers of UCBs
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The updates come from the UN Security Council's 1988 (2011) Committee, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs through notes dated July 19, August 13, and August 15, 2012.
What action is required if we find a match in existing accounts?
You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources of the matched individual/entity as detailed in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Where can we access the full sanctions list?
The complete list is available on the UN website at http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1988/list.shtml.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/237
UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No.16/14.01.062/2012-13
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.15/14.01.062/2012-13 dated October 09, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division, copies of notes dated July 19, 2012 , August 13, 2012 and August 15, 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/2012-13/237 · issued 09 Oct 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding customers.
📜 Compliance
Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UNSCR 1988 (2011) changes provided in the enclosed notes.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list and report findings.
Freeze funds and economic resources of any matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective Regional Office through the Compliance 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 (Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers of UCBs, Principal Officers of UCBs), your first concrete step on “UCBs Must Update UN Taliban Sanctions List” is: “Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UNSCR 1988 (2011) changes provided in the enclosed notes.” (RBI issued this 09 Oct 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/237 -- UCBs Must Update UN Taliban Sanctions List
Issued: 09 Oct 2012
Action required: Update your internal sanctions list with the latest UNSCR 1988 (2011) changes provided in the enclosed notes.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding customers.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated list and report findings.
Action required: Freeze funds and economic resources of any matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your respective Regional Office through the Compliance 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=7609&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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