Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/170 · issued 01 Aug 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks to update their UNSCR 1988 sanctions list with new Taliban-linked entries from June 27, 2013, and screen all new and existing accounts against it.
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
Urban Co-op Banks must update their list of banned people and groups linked to the Taliban using the new list from June 27, 2013.
Before opening any new account, check the customer's name against this updated list to make sure they are not on it.
Also check all existing accounts to see if any match the updated list.
If you find a match, freeze that account's money and assets as told in the November 16, 2009 rule.
Your Compliance Officer must tell the RBI Regional Office that you got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a co-operative bank branch officer in Indore, gets this circular on August 1, 2013. He immediately updates his bank's computer system with the new Taliban-linked names from the UN website. Then he runs a fresh check on all 500 existing loan accounts and finds one customer whose name matches the new list. Ravi freezes that account's funds and reports it to his Compliance Officer, following the rules exactly.
What changed
RBI has forwarded a fresh update from the UN Security Council's 1988 Committee, adding or modifying entries in the sanctions list of individuals and entities linked to the Taliban. This supersedes the previous list circulated in November 2012. Banks must now use the updated list for all compliance checks.
What it means for you
UCBs must immediately update their internal databases with the revised sanctions list to avoid onboarding or servicing prohibited entities. Failure to screen and freeze accounts as per the UAPA Order could lead to regulatory action. This reinforces the government's commitment to counter-terrorism financing and requires banks to maintain rigorous KYC and AML controls.
What you must do
Update your sanctions screening system with the latest UNSCR 1988 list from the UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Run a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Freeze funds and financial assets of any matched individuals/entities as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office through the Compliance Officer.
Who it affects
Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of UCBs, Branch managers handling account opening and monitoring
❓ Common questions
Where can I 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. RBI has also enclosed a copy of the MEA note dated June 27, 2013 with the circular.
What action is required if we find an existing account matching the list?
You must immediately freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources held in that account, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 7 of RBI circular dated November 16, 2009.
Does this circular apply to all co-operative banks or only urban ones?
This circular is specifically addressed to Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks. Other co-operative banks may have separate instructions.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/170
UBD BPD (PCB) Cir. No.3/14.01.062/2013-14
August 1, 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 1988 (2011) Sanctions List - Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Please refer to our circular UBD.BPD.(PCB).Cir.No.23/14.01.062/2012-13 dated November 2, 2012 on the captioned subject. We have since received from the Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division, Government of India a copy of note dated June 27, 2013 ( copy enclosed ) forwarded by the Chairman of UN Security Council's 1988 Committee 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 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. In so 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. 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,
(P.K. Arora)
General Manager
Encls.: As above.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/170 · issued 01 Aug 2013. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update your sanctions screening system with the latest UNSCR 1988 list from the UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
📜 Compliance
Run a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Freeze funds and financial assets of any matched individuals/entities as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office through 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 an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of UCBs, Branch managers handling account opening and monitoring), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Update for Urban Co-op Banks” is: “Update your sanctions screening system with the latest UNSCR 1988 list from the UN website.” (RBI issued this 01 Aug 2013).
Circular: RBI/2013-14/170 -- UAPA Sanctions List Update for Urban Co-op Banks
Issued: 01 Aug 2013
Action required: Update your sanctions screening system with the latest UNSCR 1988 list from the UN website.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Run a fresh scan of all existing accounts to identify any matches with the revised list.
Action required: Freeze funds and financial assets 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 through 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=8285&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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