UCBs: Update UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List Under UAPA
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/309 · issued 03 Oct 2013 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI directs Primary Urban Co-operative Banks to update the UN Al-Qaida sanctions list with the 23rd update, screen new and existing accounts, 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
Update your bank's list of bad people linked to Al-Qaida with the 23rd update (a new version that removes some names).
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 belong to or are linked to people or groups on the list, and if so, freeze those accounts.
Follow the freezing rules from the RBI circular dated November 16, 2009, paragraph 7, when you find a match.
Send a confirmation to your Regional Office that you received this circular.
How it plays out — a real example
A compliance officer at a Primary Urban Co-operative Bank in Surat receives this circular. She immediately updates the bank's system with the 23rd UN Al-Qaida sanctions list. Then, she runs a check on all new account applications that came in that morning and also scans the bank's existing accounts. She finds one old account linked to a name on the list, so she freezes it and follows the RBI's freezing steps from the 2009 circular.
What changed
RBI issued a circular forwarding the twenty-third update note dated September 11, 2013 from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee regarding deletions made in the Al-Qaida Sanctions List. This update follows the previous 22nd update and requires UCBs to incorporate the revised list into their compliance checks.
What it means for you
UCBs must immediately update their internal databases with the latest UN sanctions list to avoid onboarding or maintaining accounts linked to designated entities. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory action and reputational risk. The circular reinforces the existing UAPA framework, emphasizing the need for rigorous screening of all customers.
What you must do
Update the UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List with the 23rd update (deletions) in your systems.
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 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office via the Compliance Officer.
Who it affects
Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers, Principal Officers
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the updated list?
The list is based on the twenty-third update note dated September 11, 2013 from the UN Security Council's 1267/1989 Committee regarding deletions in the Al-Qaida Sanctions List, received from the Ministry of External Affairs and available on the UN website.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/309
UBD.BPD (PCB) Cir. No.26/14.01.062/2013-14
October 3, 2013
The Chief Executive Officer
All Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks
Madam / Dear Sir,
Implementation of Section 51-A of UAPA, 1967 – Updates of the UNSCR 1267(1999) /1989(2011) Committee’s Al-Qaida Sanctions List - Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks (UCBs)
Please refer to our circular UBD.BPD.(PCB). Cir. No. 16/14.01.062/2013-14 dated September 17, 2013 on the captioned subject releasing 22nd update. We have since received from UNP Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, a copy of twenty-third update note dated September 11, 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. A copy of the update is available on UN website at the following URL:
http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2013/sc11117.doc.htm
2. Primary (Urban) Cooperative Banks are required to update the list of individuals/entities as circulated by Reserve Bank of India and before opening any new account, it should be ensured that the name 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 is 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
Encls: As above.
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/309 · issued 03 Oct 2013. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update the UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List with the 23rd update (deletions) in your systems.
Screen all new account applications against the updated list before opening accounts.
📜 Compliance
Scan all existing accounts to identify and freeze any linked to listed individuals/entities.
Follow the freezing procedures detailed in paragraph 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office via the Compliance Officer.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (Primary (Urban) Co-operative Banks, Compliance Officers, Principal Officers), your first concrete step on “UCBs: Update UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List Under UAPA” is: “Update the UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List with the 23rd update (deletions) in your systems.” (RBI issued this 03 Oct 2013).
Circular: RBI/2013-14/309 -- UCBs: Update UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List Under UAPA
Issued: 03 Oct 2013
Action required: Update the UN Al-Qaida Sanctions List with the 23rd update (deletions) in your systems.
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 7 of the November 16, 2009 circular.
Action required: Acknowledge receipt of this circular to your Regional Office via the Compliance Officer.
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=8487&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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