UAPA Sanctions List Updates for RRBs and Co-op Banks
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/479 · issued 22 Apr 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates RRBs and co-op banks to update UN Al-Qaida sanctions lists from 11 update notes (Jan-Mar 2013) and a consolidated list. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against these lists and comply with 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 add 11 new update notes (from January to March 2013) and one big list (April 2013) to their 'no-go' list of people and groups linked to Al-Qaida.
Before opening any new account, check the customer's name against this updated 'no-go' list.
Also check all existing accounts to see if any match the updated 'no-go' list.
If you find a match, follow the government's freezing rules from the UAPA (a law against terrorism) as told in earlier RBI circulars.
The compliance officer (the person in charge of following rules) must tell the RBI regional office that they got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a branch operations officer in Indore at a co-operative bank, receives this circular. He immediately updates his bank's sanctions list with the 11 new update notes and the consolidated list from the UN website. Before approving a new gold loan for a customer, he screens the name against the updated list and finds no match, so he proceeds. He also runs a scan of all existing gold-loan accounts and finds one account that matches a newly added name; he then follows the UAPA freezing procedures to freeze that account and reports it to his compliance officer.
What changed
RBI circulated 11 update notes from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee (dated Jan 15 to Mar 25, 2013) and a consolidated list (April 8, 2013) to RRBs and co-op banks. This updates the previous circular of December 13, 2012, requiring banks to refresh their sanctions screening databases.
What it means for you
RRBs and co-op banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists with the new UN entries to avoid onboarding or maintaining accounts of designated individuals/entities. Non-compliance with UAPA screening and freezing obligations could lead to regulatory action. This reinforces the need for robust AML/KYC systems in smaller banks.
What you must do
Update your sanctions screening database with the 11 update notes and consolidated list from the UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated sanctions list.
Follow UAPA freezing procedures as per RBI circulars of Oct 29, 2009 and Nov 5, 2009 for any matches.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your RBI Regional Office via the Compliance Officer.
Who it affects
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers of these banks
❓ Common questions
What lists do I need to update?
You need to incorporate 11 update notes from Jan-Mar 2013 and the consolidated list received on April 8, 2013, from the UN 1267/1989 Committee's Al-Qaida Sanctions List.
Do I need to screen existing accounts?
Yes, the circular requires scanning all existing accounts to ensure no account is linked to any individual or entity on the updated list.
What if I find a match?
Follow the freezing procedures detailed in paragraph 6 of RBI circulars dated Oct 29, 2009 and Nov 5, 2009, as per the UAPA Order of Aug 27, 2009.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-13/479
RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.AML.No. 11424/07.51.018/2012-13
April 22, 2013
The Chairmen / CEOs of all Regional Rural Banks /
State and Central Co-operative Banks
Dear Sir,
Implementation of Section 51-A of UAPA, 1967- Updates of the UNSCR 1267(1999) / 1989(2011) Committee's Al Qaida Sanctions List and Consolidated List
Please refer to our circular RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.AML.No.6083 /07.51.018/2012-13 dated December 13, 2012 on the captioned subject. We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division, copies of eleven update notes dated January 15, February 5, 11, 22, 25 and March 12, 14, 18, 19, 20 and 25, 2013, ( 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. Further, Consolidated List of the Committee with respect to individuals, groups, undertakings and entities associated with Al-Qaida received with Note Verbale SCA/2/13(13) dated April 8, 2013 is also enclosed.
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 circulars RPCD.CO.RF.AML.BC. No. 34/ 07.40.00/ 2009-10 dated October 29, 2009 and RPCD.CO RRB.No. 39 /03.05.33(E)/2009-10 dated November 05, 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 above mentioned circulars.
5. The complete details of the said list are available on the UN website:
http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/pressreleases.shtml
http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/pdf/AQList.pdf
6. Compliance Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular letter to our concerned Regional Office.
Yours faithfully,
(Madhavi Sharma)
Chief General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-13/479 · issued 22 Apr 2013. 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 your sanctions screening database with the 11 update notes and consolidated list from the UN website.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the updated sanctions list.
Follow UAPA freezing procedures as per RBI circulars of Oct 29, 2009 and Nov 5, 2009 for any matches.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your RBI Regional Office via 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 (Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Co-operative Banks, Central Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers of these banks), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Updates for RRBs and Co-op Banks” is: “Update your sanctions screening database with the 11 update notes and consolidated list from the UN website.” (RBI issued this 22 Apr 2013).
Circular: RBI/2012-13/479 -- UAPA Sanctions List Updates for RRBs and Co-op Banks
Issued: 22 Apr 2013
Action required: Update your sanctions screening database with the 11 update notes and consolidated list 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 identify any matches with the updated sanctions list.
Action required: Follow UAPA freezing procedures as per RBI circulars of Oct 29, 2009 and Nov 5, 2009 for any matches.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your RBI Regional Office via 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=7947&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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