UCBs Must Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for UAPA Compliance
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/204 · issued 28 Aug 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI directs all Primary Urban Co-operative Banks to update their records with the latest UN Al-Qaida sanctions list. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against this list and freeze assets of designated individuals or entities as per UAPA orders.
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
Update your bank's list of bad people linked to Al-Qaida (a dangerous group) using the new UN list from August 6, 2013.
Check every new customer's name against this list before opening their account.
Look through all your existing accounts to find any that belong to people or groups on the list.
Freeze (lock) the money and assets of any matched accounts, following the rules from the November 16, 2009 circular.
Your Compliance Officer (the person who makes sure rules are followed) must tell the RBI (the central bank) that you got this update.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a co-operative bank branch officer in Indore, receives this RBI circular. He immediately updates his bank's computer system with the new Al-Qaida sanctions list. Then, he checks all new loan applications that day and also runs a scan of existing gold-loan accounts to see if any match the list, ready to freeze any that do.
What changed
RBI has forwarded the 19th update note from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, dated August 6, 2013, which amends the Al-Qaida Sanctions List. This update adds or modifies entries of individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida that UCBs must now incorporate into their compliance checks.
What it means for you
UCBs must immediately update their internal sanction lists to reflect the latest UN changes. Failure to screen new accounts or identify existing ones linked to listed entities could lead to regulatory action. Banks must also follow the freezing procedures outlined in the earlier UAPA circular of November 16, 2009.
What you must do
Update your internal database with the latest UN Al-Qaida sanctions list from the provided UN website.
Screen all new account openings against the updated list before onboarding customers.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals or entities.
Freeze funds and financial assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Ensure your Compliance Officer acknowledges receipt of this circular to the concerned RBI Regional Office.
Who it affects
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of UCBs, Branch managers handling account opening and KYC
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The list is the 19th update from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs. It is available on the UN website at the URL mentioned in the circular.
What actions must we take if we find a match in existing accounts?
You must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources held in those accounts, following the procedure detailed in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Do we need to report compliance to RBI?
Yes, the Compliance Officer or Principal Officer must acknowledge receipt of this circular to the concerned Regional Office of RBI.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/204
UBD.BPD.(PCB).Cir.No.6/14.01.062/2013-14
August 28, 2013
The Chief Executive Officer of
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Dear Madam / Sir,
Implementation of Section 51-A of UAPA, 1967 - Updates of the
UNSCR 1267 (1999) / 1989 (2011) Committe’s Al Qaida Sanction List -
Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Please refer to our circular UBD.BPD.PCB).Cir.No.52/14.01.062/2012-13 dated May 31, 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. 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/aq_sanctions_list.shtml
6. Compliance Officer / Principal Officer should acknowledge receipt of this circular to the Regional Office concerned.
Yours faithfully,
(Scenta Joy)
Deputy General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/204 · issued 28 Aug 2013. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account openings against the updated list before onboarding customers.
📜 Compliance
Update your internal database with the latest UN Al-Qaida sanctions list from the provided UN website.
Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals or entities.
Freeze funds and financial assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Ensure your 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 (All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers and Principal Officers of UCBs, Branch managers handling account opening and KYC), your first concrete step on “UCBs Must Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for UAPA Compliance” is: “Update your internal database with the latest UN Al-Qaida sanctions list from the provided UN website.” (RBI issued this 28 Aug 2013).
Circular: RBI/2013-14/204 -- UCBs Must Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for UAPA Compliance
Issued: 28 Aug 2013
Action required: Update your internal database with the latest UN Al-Qaida sanctions list from the provided UN website.
Action required: Screen all new account openings against the updated list before onboarding customers.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to identify any linked to listed individuals or entities.
Action required: Freeze funds and financial assets of any matched accounts as per paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Action required: Ensure your 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=8350&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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