UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for RRBs & Co-op Banks
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/196 · issued 20 Aug 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs RRBs and cooperative banks to update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list, screen new and existing accounts against it, and follow UAPA freezing procedures. Compliance officers must acknowledge receipt to the regional office.
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 using the new UN list from August 6, 2013.
Before opening any 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 are owned by or linked to people or groups on the list.
If you find a match, freeze that account's money and assets right away, following the rules from earlier RBI circulars.
The Compliance Officer must tell the RBI regional office that they got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A co-operative bank branch officer in Indore, Priya, receives this RBI circular. She immediately updates her bank's internal sanctions list with the new Al-Qaida names from the UN website. Before approving a new gold loan for a customer, she screens the applicant's name against the updated list and finds no match, so she proceeds. She also reviews her existing loan accounts and discovers one linked to a newly listed entity; she freezes that account's funds and reports it to her compliance officer.
What changed
RBI forwarded the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee's 19th update note (August 6, 2013) amending the Al-Qaida Sanctions List. Banks must now use this updated list for customer screening and account freezing actions.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions lists with the new UN entries. Failure to screen new accounts or review existing ones against this list could lead to regulatory action. The freezing of funds and assets of designated individuals/entities is mandatory under the UAPA Order.
What you must do
Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the provided UN URL.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Scan all existing accounts to identify and freeze any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Follow the freezing procedures detailed in paragraph 6 of earlier RBI circulars (Nov 2009).
Ensure the Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the concerned RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Cooperative Banks, Central Cooperative Banks, Compliance Officers / Principal Officers of these banks
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The list is the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee's Al-Qaida Sanctions List, updated via the 19th note dated August 6, 2013. The full list is available on the UN website at the URLs provided in the circular.
Do we need to freeze accounts immediately if a match is found?
Yes. As per the UAPA Order and earlier RBI circulars, banks must freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of designated individuals/entities. Follow the procedure outlined in paragraph 6 of the November 2009 circulars.
Who should acknowledge receipt of this circular?
The Compliance Officer or Principal Officer of the bank must send an acknowledgment to the concerned RBI Regional Office.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/196
RPCD.CO.RRB.RCB.AML.No.1953/07.51.019/2013-14
August 20, 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.11424/07.51.018/2012-13 dated April 22, 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 06, 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. Regional Rural Banks and State / Central Cooperative Banks 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 RPCD.CO.RRB.No.39/03.05.33 (E)/2009-10 dated November 05, 2009 and RPCD.CO.RF.AML. BC. No. 34/07.40.00/2009-10 dated October 29, 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,
(A.G. Ray)
General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/196 · issued 20 Aug 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 database with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the provided UN URL.
Scan all existing accounts to identify and freeze any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Follow the freezing procedures detailed in paragraph 6 of earlier RBI circulars (Nov 2009).
Ensure the Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the concerned RBI 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 (Regional Rural Banks (RRBs), State Cooperative Banks, Central Cooperative Banks, Compliance Officers / Principal Officers of these banks), your first concrete step on “UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for RRBs & Co-op Banks” is: “Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the provided UN URL.” (RBI issued this 20 Aug 2013).
Circular: RBI/2013-14/196 -- UAPA Section 51-A: Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for RRBs & Co-op Banks
Issued: 20 Aug 2013
Action required: Update your internal sanctions database with the latest UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List from the provided UN URL.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify and freeze any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Action required: Follow the freezing procedures detailed in paragraph 6 of earlier RBI circulars (Nov 2009).
Action required: Ensure the Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the concerned RBI 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=8337&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.
Help us keep this accurate
Found an inaccuracy or have an improvement? Tell us. Every report is reviewed by our team before any change is made — nothing goes live unverified.
Public beta — plain-English informational summaries. Always verify against the official RBI source (circular number cited on every page) before making compliance, credit, treasury, audit, or operational decisions. · Join our WhatsApp channel ↗
BANKPULSE · FREE DAILY BRIEF
Get RBI updates for your role
Every important RBI update, decoded in plain English — for your career, exams & financial awareness.
We collect only your email, name and role, used solely to send your brief — never sold or shared. Withdraw anytime via the unsubscribe link in any email. Independent platform, not affiliated with the RBI. Information, not legal advice.
REPORT AN ERROR · BETA
Spotted an error? Earn 500 BankPulse Credits
Help us stay accurate. If your correction is verified true and approved by our founder, you earn 500 BankPulse Credits — redeemable when the platform monetises.
Reviewed by a human before any credit is awarded. We never change the site from crowd input without verification.
WANT A NEW FEATURE · BETA
What would make BankPulse more useful for you?
Tell us what to build next — a tool, a data view, a role page, anything. We read every suggestion.
Thank you — your ideas directly shape what we build.