Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/208 · issued 02 Sep 2013 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates banks to update UN Al-Qaida sanctions list with 20th and 21st updates (Aug 2013). All new and existing accounts must be screened against the list; freeze assets of designated individuals/entities as per 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.
What changed
RBI circulated the 20th and 21st updates to the UN Security Council's Al-Qaida Sanctions List, received from the Ministry of External Affairs. These updates amend the list of individuals and entities linked to Al-Qaida under Section 51-A of UAPA, 1967.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately incorporate these updates into their screening systems to prevent any dealings with newly designated entities. Failure to comply could lead to regulatory action and reputational risk, as the UAPA Order requires strict adherence.
Historical instruction — do not use for current compliance. This is what was required at the time; it no longer reflects current RBI requirements. If no replacement rule is linked above, that only means none is recorded on our register yet — it does not prove no later applicable rule exists. Confirm on the official RBI source below.
What banks were required to do at the time
Update your internal sanctions list with the 20th and 21st UN Al-Qaida updates immediately.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding.
Re-scan all existing accounts to identify and freeze any linked to newly designated individuals/entities.
Follow the freezing procedures outlined in paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure 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
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the source of these sanctions list updates?
The updates are from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs. The full lists are available on the UN website.
Do we need to freeze accounts immediately upon finding a match?
Yes, as per the UAPA Order and RBI circular dated September 17, 2009, you must freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of designated individuals/entities without delay.
How often do these updates occur?
Updates are issued periodically by the UN Committee. Banks must monitor RBI circulars and the UN website for the latest changes.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/208
DBOD. AML.No.3316/14.06.001/2013-14
September 2, 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
Please refer to our circular DBOD. AML No. 2406/14.06.001/2013-14 dated August 14, 2013 on the captioned subject releasing 19th update ( copy enclosed ). We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division, copy of twentieth update note dated August 19, 2013, and twenty-first update dated August 26, 2013 ( copies 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 copies of the updates are available on UN website at the following url:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2013/sc11099.doc.htm and
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2013/sc11089.doc.html
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/2013-14/208 · issued 02 Sep 2013. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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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=8354&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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