UAPA Sanctions List Updates: Al-Qaida Designations
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/327 · issued 12 Dec 2012 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates banks to update Al-Qaida sanctions list from UN, screen new and existing accounts, and freeze assets of designated individuals/entities per UAPA Order.
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 UN Al-Qaida sanctions list in your systems using the latest notes from November/December 2012.
Screen all new account applicants against the updated list before account opening.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to newly designated individuals or entities.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A KYC & compliance officer in Indore, Mr. Kumar, must update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list in the bank's system after receiving the latest notes from November/December 2012. He then screens all new account applicants against the updated list before opening their accounts. Mr. Kumar also scans all existing accounts to identify any linked to newly designated individuals or entities and freezes their funds and assets as per the circular.
What changed
RBI received updated UN Al-Qaida sanctions list notes from November 23, 26, 27, and December 5, 2012. Banks must incorporate these changes into their screening lists and ensure compliance with the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists with the latest UN designations. All new account openings require name screening against this list, and existing accounts must be reviewed to identify any matches. Freezing of funds and assets must follow the procedures outlined in the September 17, 2009 circular.
What you must do
Update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list in your systems using the latest notes from November/December 2012.
Screen all new account applicants against the updated list before account opening.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to newly designated individuals or entities.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
Who it affects
All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The list is from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee Al-Qaida Sanctions List, available on the UN website.
What action is required for existing accounts?
Banks must scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is held by or linked to any individual or entity on the updated list.
What should we do if we find a match?
Follow the freezing procedures detailed in paragraph 6 of RBI circular DBOD.AML.BC. No. 44/14.01.001/2009-10 dated September 17, 2009.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/327
DBOD. AML.No.8432/14.06.001/2012-13
December 12, 2012
The Chairmen / CEOs of all Scheduled Commercial Banks (Excluding RRBs)/
Local Area Banks / All India Financial Institutions
Dear Sir,
Implementation of Section 51-A of UAPA, 1967-Updates of the UNSCR 1267(1999) / 1989(2011) Committee's Al Qaida Sanctions List
Please refer to our circular DBOD. AML No. 7299/14.06.001/2012-13 dated November 19, 2012 on the captioned subject. We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division, copy of notes dated November 23 , 26 , 27 , and December 5, 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. Banks/All India Financial Institutions 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. Banks are advised to strictly follow the procedure laid down in the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009 enclosed to our circular DBOD.AML.BC. No. 44/14.01.001/2009-10 dated September 17, 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 6 of the circular dated September 17, 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.
Yours faithfully,
(Sudha Damodar)
Chief General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/327 · issued 12 Dec 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account applicants against the updated list before account opening.
💻 IT / Systems
Update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list in your systems using the latest notes from November/December 2012.
📜 Compliance
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to newly designated individuals or entities.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
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 (All Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Updates: Al-Qaida Designations” is: “Update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list in your systems using the latest notes from November/December 2012.” (RBI issued this 12 Dec 2012).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/327 -- UAPA Sanctions List Updates: Al-Qaida Designations
Issued: 12 Dec 2012
Action required: Update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list in your systems using the latest notes from November/December 2012.
Action required: Screen all new account applicants against the updated list before account opening.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to newly designated individuals or entities.
Action required: Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Action required: Ensure Compliance Officer/Principal Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular.
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=7744&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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