UAPA Compliance: Updated UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List for UCBs
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-2013/518 · issued 31 May 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs Primary Urban Co-operative Banks to update their records with the latest UNSCR 1267 Al-Qaida sanctions list. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against this list and freeze assets of designated individuals/entities as per the 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
Banks must update their list of bad people (sanctions list) with new names from the UN.
Before opening a new account, check if the customer's name is on the list.
Check all existing accounts to see if any match the list.
If a match is found, freeze (lock) their money and assets as per the rules.
Tell your regional office that you got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a compliance officer at a Primary Urban Co-operative Bank in Surat, receives this circular. He immediately updates the bank's internal watch list with the new names from the UN Al-Qaida list. Then, he runs a check on all existing accounts and finds one matching a newly added entity; he freezes that account's funds as instructed.
What changed
RBI has circulated updated Al-Qaida sanctions list entries received from the Ministry of External Affairs via multiple UN notes dated between January 15 and March 25, 2013, along with the consolidated list as of April 8, 2013. This updates the list previously circulated in the circular dated April 4, 2013.
What it means for you
UCBs must immediately update their internal watch lists with the new names and entities. Failure to screen and freeze accounts as per the UAPA Order could lead to regulatory action. This is a recurring compliance obligation to prevent financing of terrorism.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions list with the new UN Al-Qaida entries from the enclosed notes.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Scan all existing customer accounts to identify any matches with the list.
Freeze funds and economic resources of any matched individuals/entities as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office.
Who it affects
Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers / Principal Officers of UCBs
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated list?
The list comes from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs through multiple notes dated between January and March 2013, and a consolidated list via Note Verbale dated April 8, 2013.
What action is required for existing accounts?
Banks must scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is held by or linked to any entity or individual on the updated list. If found, funds and economic resources must be frozen as per the procedure in the UAPA Order.
Where can we find the complete list?
The complete list is available on the UN website at the URLs provided in the circular: http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/pressreleases.shtml and http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/pdf/AQList.pdf.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2012-2013/518
UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No. 52 /14.01.062/2012-13
May 31, 2013
The Chief Executive Officer
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) Committee’s Al-Qaida Sanctions List and Consolidated List – Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Please refer to our circular UBD. BPD. (PCB) Cir. No. 47/ 14.01.062/ 2012-13 dated April 4, 2013 on the captioned subject. We have since received from the Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division, Government of India copies of notes dated January 15, 2013 February 5, 11, 22 & 25, 2013 and March 12, 14, 18, 19, 20 & 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, copies of 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 are also enclosed.
2. Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs) are required to update the list of individuals/entities as circulated by Reserve Bank of India. 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/pressreleases.shtml
http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/pdf/AQList.pdf
6. Compliance Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular to the Regional Office concerned.
(P.K. Arora)
General Manager
Encls.: As above.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2012-2013/518 · issued 31 May 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 internal sanctions list with the new UN Al-Qaida entries from the enclosed notes.
Scan all existing customer accounts to identify any matches with the list.
Freeze funds and economic resources of any matched individuals/entities as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your 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 / Principal Officers of UCBs), your first concrete step on “UAPA Compliance: Updated UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List for UCBs” is: “Update your internal sanctions list with the new UN Al-Qaida entries from the enclosed notes.” (RBI issued this 31 May 2013).
Circular: RBI/2012-2013/518 -- UAPA Compliance: Updated UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List for UCBs
Issued: 31 May 2013
Action required: Update your internal sanctions list with the new UN Al-Qaida entries from the enclosed notes.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Scan all existing customer accounts to identify any matches with the list.
Action required: Freeze funds and economic resources of any matched individuals/entities as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your 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=8012&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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