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UNSC Sanctions List: Two Entries Removed – UAPA Compliance Update

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2023-24/35 · issued 06 Jun 2023 · ~2 min read

Quick answerRBI notifies removal of two individuals from UNSC ISIL/Al-Qaida sanctions list per UNSC press release SC/15309. Regulated entities must update their screening databases and cease applying asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo to these names, while continuing to follow UAPA 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

Immediately delete the two delisted names (QDi.379 and QDi.381) from your sanctions screening database, so the system no longer flags them.
Stop freezing assets, banning travel, or applying an arms embargo for these two individuals, because the UN Security Council lifted those measures on June 5, 2023.
Check the UN press release SC/15309 and the updated UN sanctions list to confirm the removal, and keep a record of the check for auditors.
If any customer asks to have a name removed, send the request electronically to the Joint Secretary (CTCR), Ministry of Home Affairs, as instructed by the MHA.
Keep documentation of all actions taken (updates, communications, and records) for future regulatory inspections.

How it plays out — a real example

Rohit, a compliance officer at a scheduled commercial bank in Mumbai, receives an alert that the name 'Abd al‑Aziz Aday Zimin al‑Fadhil' is still blocked. He quickly logs into the bank’s screening system, deletes the QDi.379 entry, and notes the change in the compliance log, noting the UN press release dated June 5, 2023. Later that day, he informs the branch manager that the bank will no longer freeze any assets belonging to that person, ensuring smooth service for the customer.

What changed

The UNSC removed two entries (QDi.379 Abd al-Aziz Aday Zimin al-Fadhil and QDi.381 Hamad Awad Dahi Sarhan al-Shammari) from the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List effective June 5, 2023. Consequently, the asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo under UNSC resolution 2610 (2021) no longer apply to these individuals. RBI advises all regulated entities to take appropriate action per Section 51 of the Master Direction on KYC and the UAPA Order.

What it means for you

Banks and other regulated entities must immediately update their sanctions screening systems to remove these two names from their blocked lists. Failure to do so could result in continued freezing of assets for individuals no longer sanctioned, leading to compliance and reputational risks. This circular reinforces the need for real-time synchronization with UNSC lists and adherence to MHA delisting procedures.

What you must do

Update your sanctions screening database to remove the two delisted individuals (QDi.379 and QDi.381) from your blocked list.
Cease applying asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo measures to these individuals immediately.
Ensure your compliance team reviews the UNSC press release SC/15309 and the updated sanctions list on the UN website.
Forward any delisting requests received from customers to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA electronically, as per MHA instructions.
Maintain records of actions taken for audit and regulatory inspection purposes.

Who it affects

All scheduled commercial banks, All non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), All payment system operators, All other regulated entities under RBI's purview

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Stated effective date effective June 5, 2023
Decoded by BankPulse 2026-06-18 04:34 IST

Built from our lineage records — each fact carries its provenance; missing history simply is not shown (never guessed).

What is the effective date for the removal of these two entries?

The UNSC press release SC/15309 is dated June 5, 2023, and the RBI circular was issued on June 6, 2023. Entities should act from the date of the circular.

Do we need to report the removal to RBI or any other authority?

The circular does not mandate reporting the removal itself, but you must follow the procedure in the UAPA Order dated February 2, 2021 (amended March 15, 2023) annexed to the MD on KYC. Any delisting requests from customers must be forwarded to MHA.

Where can we find the updated UNSC sanctions lists?

The updated lists are available at www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list and for Taliban at www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1988/materials.

📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI

RBI/2023-24/35
 DOR.AML.REC.17/14.06.001/2023-24
 June 06, 2023
 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: Removal of 02 entries from Sanction List
 Please refer to Section 51 of our Master Direction on Know Your Customer dated February 25, 2016 as amended on May 04, 2023 (MD on KYC), in terms of which “Regulated Entities (REs) shall ensure that in terms of Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act, 1967 and amendments thereto, 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 connection, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Government of India has informed about the UNSC press release SC/15309 dated June 05, 2023 wherein the Security Council Committee pursuant to resolutions 1267 (1999), 1989 (2011) and 2253 (2015) concerning ISIL (Da’esh), Al‑Qaida and associated individuals, groups, undertakings and entities, removed the below mentioned entries from the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List after concluding its consideration of the de-listing requests for these names submitted through the Office of the Ombudsperson established pursuant to Security Council resolution 1904 (2009), and of the Comprehensive Reports of the Ombudsperson on these de-listing requests. Therefore, the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2610 (2021) and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations no longer apply to the names set out below:
 A. Individuals 
 QDi.379 Name: 1: ABD AL-AZIZ 2: ADAY 3: ZIMIN 4: AL-FADHIL
 Name (original script): عبدالعزیز عدي زمین الفضیل
 Title: na Designation: na DOB: 27 Aug. 1981 POB: Kuwait Good quality a.k.a.: a) Abd al-Aziz Udai Samin al-Fadhli b) Abd al-Aziz Udai Samin al-Fadhl c) Abd al-Aziz Adhay Zimin al-Fadhli d) Abdalaziz Ad'ai Samin Fadhli al-Fadhali Low quality a.k.a.: na Nationality : na Passport no: na National identification no: 281082701081
 QDi.381 Name: 1: HAMAD 2: AWAD 3: DAHI SARHAN 4: AL-SHAMMARI
 Name (original script): حمد عوض ضاحي سرحان الشمري
 Title: na Designation: na DOB: 31 Jan. 1984 POB: na Good quality a.k.a.: na Low quality a.k.a.: Abu Uqlah al-Kuwaiti Nationality: Kuwait Passport no: Kuwait number 155454275 National identification no: Kuwait identity card 284013101406
 3. Press release regarding the above can be found at https://press.un.org/en/2023/sc15309.doc.htm . Further, the UNSC press releases concerning amendments to the list are available at URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/press-releases 
 4. The details of the sanction measures and exemptions are available at the following URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267#further_information 
 5. In view of the above, REs are advised to take appropriate action in terms of Section 51 of the MD on KYC and strictly follow the procedure as laid down in the UAPA Order dated February 02, 2021(amended on March 15, 2023) annexed to the MD on KYC. 
 6. 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 
 7. Further, as per the instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), any request for delisting received by any 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 
 8. REs are advised to take note of the aforementioned UNSC communications and ensure meticulous compliance.
 Yours faithfully,
 (Santosh Kumar Panigrahy)
 Chief General Manager

Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2023-24/35 · issued 06 Jun 2023. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.

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Who does what — compliance checklist

⚙️ Operations

Maintain records of actions taken for audit and regulatory inspection purposes.

📜 Compliance

Update your sanctions screening database to remove the two delisted individuals (QDi.379 and QDi.381) from your blocked list.
Cease applying asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo measures to these individuals immediately.
Ensure your compliance team reviews the UNSC press release SC/15309 and the updated sanctions list on the UN website.
Forward any delisting requests received from customers to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA electronically, as per MHA instructions.

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 (All scheduled commercial banks, All non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), All payment system operators, All other regulated entities under RBI's purview), your first concrete step on “UNSC Sanctions List: Two Entries Removed – UAPA Compliance Update” is: “Update your sanctions screening database to remove the two delisted individuals (QDi.379 and QDi.381) from your blocked list.” (RBI issued this 06 Jun 2023).

Circular: RBI/2023-24/35 -- UNSC Sanctions List: Two Entries Removed – UAPA Compliance Update
Issued: 06 Jun 2023
Action required: Update your sanctions screening database to remove the two delisted individuals (QDi.379 and QDi.381) from your blocked list.
Action required: Cease applying asset freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo measures to these individuals immediately.
Action required: Ensure your compliance team reviews the UNSC press release SC/15309 and the updated sanctions list on the UN website.
Action required: Forward any delisting requests received from customers to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA electronically, as per MHA instructions.
Action required: Maintain records of actions taken for audit and regulatory inspection purposes.
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.

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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=12508&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.