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UAPA Sanctions List Updated: One Entry Amended

Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2025-26/94 · issued 24 Oct 2025 · ~1 min read

Quick answerRBI mandates all regulated entities to screen accounts against the updated UNSC 1267/1989 ISIL & Al-Qaida sanctions list, following a single entry amendment notified by MEA on October 21, 2025.

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 check all customer accounts against a special list of people linked to bad groups (terrorists).
The list was updated on October 21, 2025, for one person named Abd El Kader Mahmoud Mohamed El Sayed.
If a bank finds a match with this updated list, it must freeze that account and stop any money moving in or out.
Banks must update their computer systems right away to include this change.
If a customer asks to be removed from the list, the bank must send that request to the government (Joint Secretary, CTCR, MHA).

How it plays out — a real example

Priya, a compliance officer at a bank in Mumbai, logs into her screening system on October 25, 2025. She sees the RBI circular about the updated UNSC list for QDi.065. She immediately updates her bank's database with the amended entry for Abd El Kader Mahmoud Mohamed El Sayed, then runs a check on all existing accounts to ensure none are linked to this individual, freezing any that match.

What changed

The UNSC Committee amended one entry (QDi.065, Abd El Kader Mahmoud Mohamed El Sayed) on its ISIL & Al-Qaida Sanctions List, effective October 21, 2025. RBI circular directs all regulated entities to apply these changes under Section 51A of UAPA, 1967, as per the KYC Master Direction.

What it means for you

Banks must immediately update their screening systems to reflect the amended entry and ensure no accounts or transactions involve the listed individual. Non-compliance risks regulatory action, as the freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo under UNSCR 2734 (2024) apply. This is a routine but critical update to maintain sanctions compliance.

What you must do

Update your AML/KYC screening databases with the amended UNSC list entry for QDi.065.
Review all existing accounts and transactions for matches with the updated entry and freeze any linked assets.
Forward any de-listing requests received from customers to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA electronically.
Ensure compliance with the UAPA Order dated February 2, 2021 (amended April 22, 2024) annexed to the KYC Master Direction.

Who it affects

All scheduled commercial banks, Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), Payment system operators, All other RBI-regulated entities

❓ Common questions

Regulatory timeline

Stated effective date effective October 21, 2025
Decoded by BankPulse 2026-06-18 00:42 IST

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

What is the source of this sanctions update?

The Ministry of External Affairs informed RBI about UNSC press release SC/16197 dated October 21, 2025, which amended one entry on the ISIL & Al-Qaida Sanctions List.

Do I need to check only the amended entry or the full list?

You must screen against the full updated list available on the UN website, but this circular specifically highlights the amendment to entry QDi.065.

What action is required if a customer requests de-listing?

Forward the request electronically to Joint Secretary (CTCR), Ministry of Home Affairs, as per MHA instructions.

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

RBI/2025-26/94
DOR.AML.REC.58/14.06.001/2025-26
 October 24, 2025
 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: Amendments to 01 Entry
 Please refer to paragraph 51 of the RBI Master Direction on Know Your Customer dated February 25, 2016 as amended on August 14, 2025 (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 / 16197 dated October 21, 2025 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 enacted the amendments specified with strikethrough and / or underline in the entry below on its ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1of Security Council resolution 2734 (2024) and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.
 A. Individuals
 QDi.065 Name:  1: ABD EL KADER 2: MAHMOUD 3: MOHAMED 4: EL SAYED 
 Name (original script):  عبد القادر محمود محمد السيد 
 Title:  na  Designation:  na  DOB:  26 Dec. 1962  POB:  Egypt  Good quality a.k.a.: a)  Es Sayed, Kader  b)  Abdel Khader Mahmoud Mohamed el Sayed  Low quality a.k.a.:  na  Nationality:  Egypt  Passport no:  na  National identification no:  na  Address:  na  Listed on:  24 Apr. 2002 ( amended on 26 Nov. 2004, 7 Jun. 2007, 16 May 2011, 1 May 2019, 15 Nov. 2021, 6 Oct. 2025,  21 Oct.2025  )   Other information:  Italian Fiscal Code: SSYBLK62T26Z336L. Sentenced to 8 years imprisonment in Italy on 2 February 2004. Considered a fugitive from justice by the Italian authorities. Reportedly killed  in the border region of Afghanistan and Pakistan  in 2012. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 1822 (2008) was concluded on 22 Apr. 2010. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 2253 (2015) was concluded on 21 Feb. 2019. Review pursuant to Security Council resolution 2368 (2017) was concluded on 15 November 2021. INTERPOL-UN Security Council Special Notice web link: https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/View-UN-Notices-Individuals .
 3. In accordance with paragraph 58 of resolution 2610 (2021), the Committee has made accessible on its website the narrative summaries of reasons for listing of the above entries at the following URL:   
 www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list/summaries .
 4. Press release dated October 21, 2025 regarding the above can be found at https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/content/sc16197 
 Further, the UNSC press releases concerning amendments to the list are available at URL:  https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/press-releases 
 5. The details of the sanction measures and exemptions are available at the following URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267#further_information 
 6. In view of the above, REs are advised to take appropriate action in terms of paragraph 51 of the MD on KYC and strictly follow the procedure as laid down in the UAPA Order dated February 02, 2021 (amended on April 22, 2024) annexed to the MD on KYC.
 7. 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 
 8. Further, as per the instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), any request for de-listing 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 
 9. REs are advised to take note of the aforementioned UNSC communications and ensure meticulous compliance.
 Yours faithfully,
 (Veena Srivastava)
 Chief General Manager

Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2025-26/94 · issued 24 Oct 2025. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.

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Worked example & action-note template

Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All scheduled commercial banks, Non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), Payment system operators, All other RBI-regulated entities), your first concrete step on “UAPA Sanctions List Updated: One Entry Amended” is: “Update your AML/KYC screening databases with the amended UNSC list entry for QDi.065.” (RBI issued this 24 Oct 2025).

Circular: RBI/2025-26/94 -- UAPA Sanctions List Updated: One Entry Amended
Issued: 24 Oct 2025
Action required: Update your AML/KYC screening databases with the amended UNSC list entry for QDi.065.
Action required: Review all existing accounts and transactions for matches with the updated entry and freeze any linked assets.
Action required: Forward any de-listing requests received from customers to Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA electronically.
Action required: Ensure compliance with the UAPA Order dated February 2, 2021 (amended April 22, 2024) annexed to the KYC Master Direction.
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=12918&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.