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UAPA Section 51-A: UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List Update

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/182 · issued 14 Aug 2013 · ~2 min read

Quick answerRBI directs banks to update the UNSCR 1267 Al-Qaida sanctions list with the 19th amendment from August 6, 2013. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against this list and freeze assets of designated individuals/entities as per the UAPA Order of 2009.

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 Al-Qaida (a dangerous group) using the 19th update from the UN (a world group) dated August 6, 2013.
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 match the new names on the list.
If you find a match, freeze (stop all use of) that account's money and assets right away, following the rules from the government's 2009 order.

How it plays out — a real example

Ravi, a compliance officer at a bank in Mumbai, receives this RBI circular. He immediately updates the bank's screening system with the new UN list. Then, he runs a check on all existing accounts and finds one belonging to a newly listed entity. Ravi freezes that account's funds and reports it to the authorities, following the bank's procedures.

What changed

RBI has circulated the 19th update note from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, which amends the Al-Qaida Sanctions List of individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida. Banks must now use this updated list for compliance with Section 51-A of UAPA, 1967.

What it means for you

Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions screening databases with the new UN list entries. Failure to identify and freeze accounts of designated persons could lead to regulatory action. This reinforces the ongoing obligation to monitor both new and existing customers against evolving global terrorist financing lists.

What you must do

Update your internal UNSCR 1267 sanctions list with the 19th amendment details from the UN website.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the newly added individuals/entities.
Freeze funds and economic resources of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure your 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

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Decoded by BankPulse 2026-06-18 13:30 IST
Amends — UAPA Sanctions List Updates: Al-Qaida Designations
Amends — Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for Banks

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

What is the source of this updated sanctions list?

The list is the 19th update from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, received via the Ministry of External Affairs. The full list is available on the UN website at the URLs provided in the circular.

What action is required for existing accounts that match the list?

Banks must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources of such accounts, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 6 of RBI circular DBOD.AML.BC. No. 44/14.01.001/2009-10 dated September 17, 2009.

Does this circular replace earlier instructions?

No, it updates the list referenced in the earlier circular DBOD.AML No. 14982/14.06.001/2012-13 dated April 17, 2013. The underlying UAPA Order of August 27, 2009 and its compliance procedures remain in effect.

📜 This document’s life story (2 recorded events, each backed by RBI’s own words)

Amends UAPA Sanctions List Updates: Al-Qaida Designations

Amends Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for Banks

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI

RBI/2013-14/182

DBOD. AML.No. 2406/14.06.001/2013-14

 August 14, 2013

 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 and Consolidated List

 Please refer to our circular DBOD. AML No. 14982/14.06.001/2012-13 dated April 17, 2013 on the captioned subject. We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division, copy of nineteenth update note dated August 6, 2013, (copy enclosed) forwarded by the Chairman of UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee regarding amendments made in the “Al-Qaida Sanctions List”, i.e. list of individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida. The copy of the update is available on UN website at the following url;

 http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2013/sc11089.doc.htm 

 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/pressreleases.shtml 

 http://www.un.org/sc/committees/1267/aq_sanctions_list.shtml 

 6. Compliance Officer/Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular.

 Yours faithfully,

 (Prakash Chandra Sahoo)

 Chief General Manager

 Encl: As above

Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/182 · issued 14 Aug 2013. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.

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Who does what — compliance checklist

💻 IT / Systems

Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.

📜 Compliance

Update your internal UNSCR 1267 sanctions list with the 19th amendment details from the UN website.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the newly added individuals/entities.
Freeze funds and economic resources of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure your 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 a Compliance officer 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 Section 51-A: UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List Update” is: “Update your internal UNSCR 1267 sanctions list with the 19th amendment details from the UN website.” (RBI issued this 14 Aug 2013).

Circular: RBI/2013-14/182 -- UAPA Section 51-A: UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List Update
Issued: 14 Aug 2013
Action required: Update your internal UNSCR 1267 sanctions list with the 19th amendment details from the UN website.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any matches with the newly added individuals/entities.
Action required: Freeze funds and economic resources of any matched accounts as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Action required: Ensure your 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.

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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=8307&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.