PSOs Must Screen Accounts Against Updated UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List
No longer current — withdrawn, no replacement on file yet
Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/256 · issued 13 Sep 2013 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates all payment system operators to update their records with the latest UN Al-Qaida sanctions list, screen new and existing accounts, and freeze assets of designated individuals or entities as per UAPA guidelines.
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 has circulated the 19th update note from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, which amends the Al-Qaida Sanctions List. Payment system operators must now use this updated list to screen all new and existing accounts.
What it means for you
Banks and payment operators must immediately update their internal sanctions databases with the revised UN list. Failure to identify and freeze accounts linked to listed entities could lead to regulatory action. This reinforces the government's commitment to combating terrorism financing through the payment ecosystem.
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 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 and flag any matches with the updated list.
Freeze funds, financial assets, or economic resources of any matched individuals or entities as per paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 circular.
Ensure nodal officers acknowledge receipt of this circular to confirm compliance.
Who it affects
All payment system operators authorized under the PSS Act, 2007, Banks offering payment services, Compliance and AML teams at financial institutions
❓ Common questions
Regulatory timeline
Decoded by BankPulse2026-06-18 12:50 IST
Amends — Update Al-Qaida Sanctions List for Banks
Status change: withdrawn03 Aug 2026, 04:00 IST
Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).
What is the source of the updated sanctions list?
The list is the 19th update from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee, available on the UN website at the URL provided in the circular.
What action is required for existing accounts that match the list?
PSOs must freeze the funds, financial assets, or economic resources of such accounts, following the procedure in paragraph 6 of the September 17, 2009 RBI circular.
Who needs to acknowledge receipt of this circular?
The Nodal Officer or Principal Officer of each payment system operator must acknowledge receipt to the RBI.
📜 This document’s life story (1 recorded event, each backed by RBI’s own words)
AmendsUpdate Al-Qaida Sanctions List for Banks
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/256
DPSS. CO. AD. No.628/02.27.005/2013-14
September 13, 2013
CEOs of all the Payment System Operators Authorised under the PSS Act, 2007
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 DPSS.CO.AD.No.2050/02.27.005/2012-13 dated May 8, 2013 . 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. All the Payment System Operators (PSOs) 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, PSOs 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. All the PSOs are advised to strictly follow the procedure laid down in the UAPA Order dated August 27, 2009 enclosed to the Reserve Bank circular DBOD.AML.BC. No. 44/14.01.001/2009-10 dated September 17, 2009 and to ensure meticulous compliance to the Order issued by the Government. The said circular is available on our website www.rbi.org.in .
4. As far as freezing of funds, financial assets or economic resources or related services held in the form of 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/pdf/AQList.pdf
6. Nodal Officer/Principal Officer may please acknowledge receipt of this circular.
Yours faithfully
(K C Anand)
General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/256 · issued 13 Sep 2013. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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=8415&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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