UAPA Sanctions List Update: Al-Qaida Deletions (22nd Update)
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/235 · issued 10 Sep 2013 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs banks to update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list with the 22nd update, which includes deletions. Banks must screen new and existing accounts against this list and follow UAPA freezing procedures.
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 replace the old list (21st update) with the new list (22nd update) that has some names removed.
Before opening a new account, check if the customer's name is on the updated list.
Check all existing accounts to make sure no account belongs to anyone on the updated list.
Follow the government's rules from August 27, 2009, for freezing accounts of people on the list.
The Compliance Officer must say they got this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A KYC & compliance officer in Indore updates her bank's computer system with the 22nd list of names. She then checks a new customer's name against the list before approving a gold loan, and also runs a check on all existing loan accounts to ensure none are linked to any deleted or remaining names.
What changed
The 22nd update to the UNSCR 1267/1989 Al-Qaida Sanctions List has been issued, reflecting deletions of certain individuals and entities. Banks must replace the previous 21st update list with this new version.
What it means for you
Banks must immediately update their internal sanctions screening systems to reflect the deletions in the Al-Qaida list. Failure to do so could result in non-compliance with UAPA obligations, leading to regulatory action. This ensures that accounts linked to removed entities are no longer frozen unnecessarily.
What you must do
Update your sanctions screening database with the 22nd update of the UN Al-Qaida list, which includes deletions.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding customers.
Scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is held by or linked to any entity or individual in the updated list.
Ensure compliance with the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009, and the procedures in RBI circular DBOD.AML.BC. No. 44/14.01.001/2009-10.
Have your Compliance Officer acknowledge receipt of this circular.
Who it affects
Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions
❓ Common questions
What is the source of this sanctions list update?
The update is from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, forwarded by the Ministry of External Affairs. The full list is available on the UN website.
Does this update include any new designations?
No. The update only includes deletions from the Al-Qaida Sanctions List. For freezing procedures related to designated individuals/entities, refer to the circular dated September 17, 2009.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/235
DBOD. AML.No.3817/14.06.001/2013-14
September 10, 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. 3316/14.06.001/2013-14 dated September 2, 2013 on the captioned subject releasing 21st update. We have since received from Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs, UNP Division, copy of twenty-second update note dated September 4, 2013 ( copy enclosed ) forwarded by the Chairman of UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee regarding deletions 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/sc11109.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/2013-14/235 · issued 10 Sep 2013. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding customers.
📜 Compliance
Update your sanctions screening database with the 22nd update of the UN Al-Qaida list, which includes deletions.
Scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is held by or linked to any entity or individual in the updated list.
Ensure compliance with the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009, and the procedures in RBI circular DBOD.AML.BC. No. 44/14.01.001/2009-10.
Have your Compliance Officer acknowledge 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 (Scheduled Commercial Banks (excluding RRBs), Local Area Banks, All India Financial Institutions), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Update: Al-Qaida Deletions (22nd Update)” is: “Update your sanctions screening database with the 22nd update of the UN Al-Qaida list, which includes deletions.” (RBI issued this 10 Sep 2013).
Action required: Update your sanctions screening database with the 22nd update of the UN Al-Qaida list, which includes deletions.
Action required: Screen all new account applications against the updated list before onboarding customers.
Action required: Scan all existing accounts to ensure no account is held by or linked to any entity or individual in the updated list.
Action required: Ensure compliance with the UAPA Order of August 27, 2009, and the procedures in RBI circular DBOD.AML.BC. No. 44/14.01.001/2009-10.
Action required: Have your Compliance Officer acknowledge 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.
💬 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=8389&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.