Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2020-21/103 · issued 24 Feb 2021 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates all regulated entities to update their screening systems with 92 amended UNSC sanctions list entries under UAPA Section 51A, ensuring no accounts or services are provided to designated terrorists or entities.
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 update their computer systems to include 92 changed names on the UN's list of bad people and groups linked to terrorism.
Check all your customers' accounts against this updated list and freeze (stop) any account that matches a listed name right away.
If a customer asks to be removed from the list, send that request to the Joint Secretary (CTCR) at the Ministry of Home Affairs by email.
Keep a record of all updates and checks you do, so an auditor (someone who checks your work) can see you followed the rules.
How it plays out — a real example
Ravi, a payments & clearing officer in Indore, logs into his bank's screening system after receiving the RBI circular. He uploads the 92 amended UNSC entries, then runs a check on all existing gold-loan customers. The system flags one account that matches an updated name, so Ravi immediately freezes that account and reports it to his compliance team, ensuring the bank follows UAPA Section 51A.
What changed
The UNSC's 1267/1989 ISIL & Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee amended 92 entries in its consolidated list, as notified via MEA press release SC/14446 dated February 23, 2021. RBI circular DOR.AML.BC.No.44/14.06.001/2020-21 directs all regulated entities to incorporate these changes into their compliance checks.
What it means for you
Banks and other regulated entities must immediately update their KYC and AML screening databases to reflect the amended 92 entries, covering both individuals (QDi) and entities (QDe). Failure to comply could lead to regulatory action, as maintaining accounts for listed persons violates UAPA Section 51A. The circular also reiterates the delisting request process through MHA and the UN Ombudsperson.
What you must do
Update your AML/KYC screening systems with the 92 amended UNSC sanctions list entries (QDi.006 to QDe.151).
Cross-check all existing customer accounts against the updated list and freeze any matching accounts immediately.
Ensure your compliance team is aware of the delisting request procedure: forward any such requests to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA electronically.
Document the update and compliance actions for audit and regulatory review.
Who it affects
All scheduled commercial banks, Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), Payment system operators, Other regulated entities under RBI's AML/CFT framework
❓ Common questions
What is the source of the 92 amended entries?
The UNSC Committee established under Resolutions 1267, 1989, and 2253 issued press release SC/14446 on February 23, 2021, amending 92 entries in the ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List. The MEA forwarded this to RBI.
How should we handle a delisting request from a customer?
Forward the request electronically to Joint Secretary (CTCR), Ministry of Home Affairs. Alternatively, the individual/entity can approach the UN Ombudsperson directly via the UN website.
Does this circular replace earlier KYC master directions?
No, it supplements Section 51 of the Master Direction on KYC dated February 25, 2016 (as amended December 18, 2020), which already requires compliance with UNSC sanctions lists.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2020-21/103
DOR.AML.BC.No.44/14.06.001/2020-21
February 24, 2021
The Chairpersons/ CEOs of all the Regulated Entities
Madam/Dear Sir,
Implementation of Section 51A of UAPA, 1967: Updates to UNSC’s 1267/ 1989 ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List – Amendment of 92 entries
Please refer to Section 51 of our Master Direction on Know Your Customer dated February 25, 2016 as amended on December 18, 2020 , in terms of which “Regulated Entities (REs) shall ensure that in terms of Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act, 1967, they do not have any account in the name of individuals/entities appearing in the lists of individuals and entities, suspected of having terrorist links, which are approved by and periodically circulated by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).”
2. In this regard, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has now forwarded the following Press Release issued by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Committee established pursuant to Resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida, and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities regarding changes in the List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of UNSC resolution 2368 (2017), and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.
Note SC/14446 dated 23 February 2021 regarding amendment of ninety two entries[ 1. QDi.006, 2. QDi.012, 3. QDi.015, 4. QDi.029, 5. QDi.057, 6. QDi.126, 7. QDi.135, 8. QDi.141, 9. QDi.150, 10. QDi.154, 11. QDi.155, 12. QDi.184, 13. QDi.208, 14. QDi.217, 15. QDi.219, 16. QDi.222, 17. QDi.223, 18. QDi.226, 19. QDi.244, 20. QDi.251, 21. QDi.268, 22. QDi.282, 23. QDi.292, 24. QDi.293, 25. QDi.295, 26. QDi.299, 27. QDi.296, 28. QDi.298, 29. QDi.328, 30. QDi.333, 31. QDi.338, 32. QDi.343, 33. QDi.344, 34. QDi.345, 35. QDi.348, 36. QDi.349, 37. QDi.350, 38. QDi.355, 39. QDi.356, 40. QDi.357, 41. QDi.358, 42. QDi.359, 43. QDi.360, 44. QDi.363, 45. QDi.364, 46. QDi.365, 47. QDi.367, 48. QDi.368, 49. QDi.371, 50. QDi.372, 51. QDi.336, 52. QDi.377, 53. QDe.001, 54. QDe.002, 55. QDe.003, 56. QDe.004, 57. QDe.006, 58. QDe.007, 59. QDe.008, 60. QDe.010, 61. QDe.011, 62. QDe.012, 63. QDe.014, 64. QDe.019, 65. QDe.021, 66. QDe.070, 67. QDe.088, 68. QDe.089, 69. QDe.090, 70. QDe.092, 71. QDe.098, 72. QDe.100, 73. QDe.101, 74. QDe.104, 75. QDe.106, 76. QDe.108, 77. QDe.109, 78. QDe.110, 79. QDe.111, 80. QDe.112, 81. QDe.113, 82. QDe.114, 83. QDe.115, 84. QDe.116, 85. QDe.118, 86. QDe.119, 87. QDe.130, 88. QDe.131, 89. QDe.132, 90. QDe.147, 91. QDe.148, 92. QDe.151]
The UNSC press release concerning amendments to the list is available at URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/press-releases
3. Updated lists of individuals and entities linked to ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaida and Taliban are available at:
www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list
https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1988/materials
4. The details of the sanctions measures and exemptions are available at the following URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267#further_information
5. As per the instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), any request for delisting received by any Regulated Entity (RE) is to be forwarded electronically to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA for consideration. Individuals, groups, undertakings or entities seeking to be removed from the Security Council’s ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List can submit their request for delisting to an independent and impartial Ombudsperson who has been appointed by the United Nations Secretary-General. More details are available at the following URL:
https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/ombudsperson/application
6. In view of the above, REs are advised to take note of the aforementioned UNSC communication and ensure meticulous compliance.
Yours faithfully,
(Vivek Srivastava)
General Manager
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2020-21/103 · issued 24 Feb 2021. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update your AML/KYC screening systems with the 92 amended UNSC sanctions list entries (QDi.006 to QDe.151).
📜 Compliance
Cross-check all existing customer accounts against the updated list and freeze any matching accounts immediately.
Ensure your compliance team is aware of the delisting request procedure: forward any such requests to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA electronically.
Document the update and compliance actions for audit and regulatory review.
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 (All scheduled commercial banks, Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), Payment system operators, Other regulated entities under RBI's AML/CFT framework), your first concrete step on “UAPA Section 51A: UNSC Sanctions List Updated – 92 Entries Amended” is: “Update your AML/KYC screening systems with the 92 amended UNSC sanctions list entries (QDi.006 to QDe.151).” (RBI issued this 24 Feb 2021).
Action required: Update your AML/KYC screening systems with the 92 amended UNSC sanctions list entries (QDi.006 to QDe.151).
Action required: Cross-check all existing customer accounts against the updated list and freeze any matching accounts immediately.
Action required: Ensure your compliance team is aware of the delisting request procedure: forward any such requests to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA electronically.
Action required: Document the update and compliance actions for audit and regulatory review.
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=12035&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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