The Reserve Bank of India (RBI), through circular RBI/2025-26/242 dated 11 March 2026, directed regulated financial entities to comply with updates made to the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Taliban Sanctions List under Resolution 1988 (2011). Acting under Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, the RBI instructed banks, financial institutions, and other regulated entities to ensure that no accounts are maintained in the names of individuals or entities appearing in the updated sanctions list associated with terrorist activities. The Ministry of External Affairs informed that the UNSC Sanctions Committee amended 22 entries in the Taliban sanctions list, which includes measures such as asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes. Regulated entities must verify their records and take appropriate action in accordance with RBI’s Know Your Customer (KYC) Directions, 2025 and the UAPA Order dated February 2, 2021 (as amended in 2024). Requests for delisting must be forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs or the UN Focal Point for Delisting.
Reserve Bank of India
RBI/2025-26/242
DOR.AML.REC.437/14.06.001/2025-26 | Dated: March 11, 2026
The Chairpersons/ CEOs of the Commercial Banks,
Small Finance Banks, Payment Banks, Urban Co-operative Banks,
Rural Co-operative Banks, Regional Rural Banks, Local Area Banks,
Non-Banking Financial Companies, Asset Reconstruction Companies,
All India Financial Institutions
Madam/Dear Sir,
Implementation of Section 51A of UAPA, 1967: Updates to UNSC’s 1988 (2011) Taliban Sanctions List: Amendment of 22 Entries: UAPA Update 02 of 2026
Please refer to Chapter IX on “Requirements/obligations under International Agreements – Communications from International Agencies” of the Reserve Bank of India – Know Your Customer, Directions, 2025 dated November 28, 2025 (amended as on December 29, 2025) (“Directions”), as per which, regulated entity shall ensure that in terms of section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act, 1967 and amendments thereto, it does 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/16313 dated March 10, 2026 wherein the Security Council Committee established and maintained pursuant to Security Council resolution 1988 (2011) has enacted amendments to the ‘Taliban Sanctions List’, which includes names of individuals and entities associated with the Taliban.
2.1 The Security Council Committee pursuant to resolution 1988 (2011) enacted the amendments specified with strikethrough and/or underline in the entries as specified in the Annex on its 1988 List of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2816 (2026), and adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.
3. Press release dated March 10, 2026 regarding the above can be found at https://press.un.org/en/2026/sc16313.doc.htm
4. In view of the above, regulated entities are advised to take appropriate action in terms of Chapter IX of the aforementioned Directions of RBI and strictly follow the procedure as laid down in the UAPA Order dated February 02, 2021 (amended on April 22, 2024) annexed to the directions.
5. Updated lists of individuals and entities linked to ISIL (Da’esh), Al-Qaida and Taliban issued by UNSC Committee are available at:
www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267/aq_sanctions_list
https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1988/materials
6. Further, as per the instructions from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), any request for de-listing received by any bank, stock exchanges/ depositories, intermediaries regulated by SEBI and Insurance companies 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 Taliban Sanctions List can submit their request for delisting to either directly to the Focal Point for Delisting established pursuant to resolution 1730 (2006) or through his/her State of residence or nationality. More details are available at the following URL:
https://main.un.org/securitycouncil/en/sanctions/1988/materials/procedures_delisting
7. Regulated entities are advised to take note of the aforementioned UNSC communications and ensure meticulous compliance.
Yours faithfully,
(Veena Srivastava)
Chief General Manager
Enclosures: As above
