Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/276 · issued 02 Nov 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all Primary Urban Co-operative Banks to update the UNSCR 1988 sanctions list for Taliban-linked entities. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against this list and follow UAPA freezing 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
Banks must update their list of bad people linked to the Taliban (called the UNSCR 1988 sanctions list) with the newest changes from the UN website.
Before opening a 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 belong to or are linked to people or groups on the list.
If you find a match, freeze (lock) the account's money and things of value, following the rules from the UAPA (a law against terrorism) order of August 27, 2009.
Send a message to your Regional Office saying you got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A compliance officer at a Primary Urban Co-operative Bank in Surat receives this circular. She immediately logs into the UN website, downloads the latest UNSCR 1988 list, and updates her bank's system. Then, she runs a check on all 500 existing accounts and finds one account that matches a name on the list. She freezes that account's funds and reports it to the Regional Office, following the UAPA freezing rules.
What changed
RBI has circulated an updated version of the UNSCR 1988 sanctions list, which includes changes made by the UN Security Council's 1988 Committee. This replaces the previous list from the November 1, 2012 circular.
What it means for you
UCBs must immediately update their internal sanctions lists and screen all new account openings against the revised list. Existing accounts must be scanned to identify any matches, and if found, banks must freeze funds and assets as per the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009.
What you must do
Update the UNSCR 1988 sanctions list in your systems with the latest changes from the UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is linked to listed individuals or entities.
Freeze funds and assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office via the Compliance/Principal Officer.
Who it affects
Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers, Principal Officers
❓ 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.
What action is required if we find a match in existing accounts?
You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources of the designated individual/entity as detailed in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/276
UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No. 23/14.01.062/2012-13
November 2, 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.22/14.01.062/2012-13 dated November 1, 2012 . We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division, copy of note dated October 25, 2012 forwarded by the Chairman of UN Security Council's 1988 (2011) Committee ( copy enclosed ) regarding changes made in the ‘1988 Sanctions List’, i.e. list of individuals and entities linked to Taliban.
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/2012-13/276 · issued 02 Nov 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update the UNSCR 1988 sanctions list in your systems with the latest changes from the UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
📜 Compliance
Scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is linked to listed individuals or entities.
Freeze funds and assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office via the Compliance/Principal 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 an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers, Principal Officers), your first concrete step on “UNSCR 1988 Sanctions List Update for UCBs” is: “Update the UNSCR 1988 sanctions list in your systems with the latest changes from the UN website.” (RBI issued this 02 Nov 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/276 -- UNSCR 1988 Sanctions List Update for UCBs
Issued: 02 Nov 2012
Action required: Update the UNSCR 1988 sanctions list in your systems with the latest changes from the UN website.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is linked to listed individuals or entities.
Action required: Freeze funds and assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office via the Compliance/Principal 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=7667&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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