Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2023-24/56 · issued 18 Aug 2023 · ~2 min read
Quick answerRBI mandates all regulated entities to update their designated lists per UNSC 1718 sanctions amendments on DPRK, effective upon receipt. Daily verification of the UNSCR 1718 Sanctions List of Designated Individuals and Entities, as available on the MEA website, is required to ensure compliance with Section 12A of the WMD Act, 2005.
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
The UNSC Committee under resolution 1718 amended certain entries on its Sanctions List of individuals and entities, with changes marked by strikethrough and underline. RBI has communicated these amendments to the designated list previously notified in its July 4, 2023 circular, requiring regulated entities to update their records accordingly.
What it means for you
Banks and other regulated entities must immediately incorporate the latest UNSC sanctions amendments into their KYC and screening processes to avoid non-compliance with the WMD Act. Failure to align with these updates could lead to regulatory penalties and reputational risk, as the list is part of the statutory framework under Section 12A.
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 designated list with the amendments enclosed with this circular, including strikethrough and underline changes.
Verify the latest UNSCR 1718 Sanctions List on DPRK daily from the MEA and UN websites provided.
Ensure your KYC and transaction screening systems reflect the revised entries to maintain compliance with the WMD Act.
Document all updates and verification steps for audit and regulatory review.
Who it affects
All regulated entities under RBI (banks, NBFCs, payment systems, etc.), Compliance and AML/KYC teams, Risk management departments
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 designated list?
The amendments come from the UNSC Committee established under resolution 1718, communicated via the Ministry of External Affairs. RBI has enclosed the changes with this circular.
How often must we check the sanctions list?
Per RBI's Master Direction on KYC, regulated entities must verify the UNSCR 1718 Sanctions List daily to account for any additions, deletions, or changes.
What happens if we don't update our list?
Non-compliance with Section 12A of the WMD Act can lead to regulatory action, including penalties, as the list is part of the statutory compliance framework.
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2023-24/56
DOR.AML.REC.33/14.06.001/2023-24
August 18, 2023
The Chairpersons/ CEOs of all the Regulated Entities
Madam/Dear Sir,
Implementation of Section 12A of the Weapons of Mass Destruction and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005: Designated List (Amendments)
Please refer to Section 52 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, inter alia, “REs shall ensure meticulous compliance with the “Procedure for Implementation of Section 12A of the Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) and their Delivery Systems (Prohibition of Unlawful Activities) Act, 2005” laid down in terms of Section 12A of the WMD Act, 2005 vide Order dated January 30, 2023, by the Ministry of Finance, Government of India (Annex III of the Master Direction on Know Your Customer).”
2. Further, in terms of Section 53 of our MD on KYC, “REs shall verify every day, the ‘UNSCR 1718 Sanctions List of Designated Individuals and Entities‘, as available at https://www.mea.gov.in/Implementation-of-UNSC-Sanctions-DPRK.htm , to take into account any modifications to the list in terms of additions, deletions or other changes and also ensure compliance with the ‘Implementation of Security Council Resolution on Democratic People’s Republic of Korea Order, 2017’, as amended from time to time by the Central Government”.
3. A reference is also invited to our circular DOR.AML.REC.23/14.06.001/2023-24 dated July 04, 2023 , communicating thereby the Consolidated List of UNSC Designated / Sanctioned Individuals and Entities under the UNSC Resolutions relating to non-proliferation. Certain amendments to the entries in the List were notified vide our circular DOR. AML.REC.24/14.06.001/2023-24 dated July 04, 2023 .
4. In this regard, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), GoI has informed that the UNSC Committee established pursuant to resolution 1718(2006) enacted the amendments, specified with strikethrough and/or underline in certain entries on its Sanctions List of individuals and entities ( enclosed with this circular). Hence, the ‘ designated list ’ (as referred in Para 2.1 and other relevant paras of the aforementioned Order dated January 30, 2023) communicated vide our circular DOR.AML.REC.23/14.06.001/2023-24 dated July 04, 2023 is amended in accordance with the changes in these relevant entries.
5. The latest version of the UNSC Sanctions lists on DPRK & Iran are accessible on the UN Security Council’s website at the following URLs:
https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1718
https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/content/2231/list
6. The REs are advised to take note of the aforementioned communications and ensure meticulous compliance.
Yours faithfully,
(Santosh Kumar Panigrahy)
Chief General Manager
Encl: As above
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2023-24/56 · issued 18 Aug 2023. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
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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=12530&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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