Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/275 · issued 01 Nov 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks to update their UNSCR 1267/1989 sanctions list with changes received from the Government of India. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against this list and follow the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009 for compliance.
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 the sanctions list with new changes from the Government of India to prevent dealings with [terrorist groups] like Al-Qaida
Screen all new and existing accounts against the updated list to ensure no accounts are held by or linked to [banned individuals or entities]
Freeze funds and assets of [designated persons] as per the UAPA Order
Comply with the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009 to avoid regulatory action
How it plays out — a real example
A compliance officer in Mumbai will update the sanctions list and then screen all new account applications against it before opening any accounts, to ensure the bank is not inadvertently supporting any [banned individuals or entities]. If a match is found, they will freeze the account as per the UAPA Order. This helps the bank comply with the regulations and avoid any potential penalties.
What changed
RBI has forwarded additional updates to the Al-Qaida Sanctions List based on UN Security Council Committee changes from September to October 2012. This supplements the earlier circular of October 9, 2012, requiring UCBs to incorporate the latest list revisions.
What it means for you
UCBs must immediately update their internal sanctions lists to include the newly designated individuals and entities. Failure to screen accounts against the updated list could lead to regulatory action. Banks need to ensure no new accounts are opened for listed persons and that existing linked accounts are identified and frozen as per the 2009 UAPA Order.
What you must do
Update the UNSCR 1267/1989 sanctions list with the latest changes from the Government of India notes dated September 5, 27, October 4, 5, and 18, 2012.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals or entities.
Freeze funds and assets of designated persons as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to the concerned Regional Office.
Who it affects
Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of UCBs
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The updates come from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, forwarded by the Government of India via notes dated September and October 2012.
Do we need to check only new accounts or existing ones too?
Both. You must ensure no new account is opened for a listed person and scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to the list.
What action is required for accounts linked to listed entities?
Freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources as detailed in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/275
UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No. 21/14.01.062/2012-13
November 1, 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.17/14.01.062/2012-13 dated October 9, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division, copies of notes dated September 5, 2012 , September 27, 2012 , October 4, 2012 , October 5, 2012 and October 18, 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/2012-13/275 · issued 01 Nov 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 the UNSCR 1267/1989 sanctions list with the latest changes from the Government of India notes dated September 5, 27, October 4, 5, and 18, 2012.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals or entities.
Freeze funds and assets of designated persons as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to the concerned 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 and Principal Officers of UCBs), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Updates for Urban Co-op Banks” is: “Update the UNSCR 1267/1989 sanctions list with the latest changes from the Government of India notes dated September 5, 27, October 4, 5, and 18, 2012.” (RBI issued this 01 Nov 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/275 -- UAPA Sanctions List Updates for Urban Co-op Banks
Issued: 01 Nov 2012
Action required: Update the UNSCR 1267/1989 sanctions list with the latest changes from the Government of India notes dated September 5, 27, October 4, 5, and 18, 2012.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals or entities.
Action required: Freeze funds and assets of designated persons as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to the concerned 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=7666&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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