The RBI, on October 27, 2026, directed financial institutions to remove three delisted entities from the UNSC 1267/1989 ISIL & Al-Qaida sanctions list pursuant to Section 51A of UAPA, 1967, requiring corresponding updates to asset-freezing measures.
RBI Announces Removal of 3 from UNSC Terror List
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a circular on October 27, 2026, informing all regulated financial institutions of the removal of three entries from the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) 1267/1989 ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List. In accordance with Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), financial institutions must immediately update their systems to reflect this delisting.
Entities previously subject to asset freezes under the prior designation must have restrictions lifted without delay, provided due diligence confirms eligibility. The RBI emphasized that updates must be reflected in customer screening databases, transaction monitoring tools, and AML reporting systems to prevent over-compliance or legal risk from erroneous blocking.
Legal advisors must ensure their institutional clients have processes for both adding and removing sanctioned persons, as dynamic changes to global lists have direct implications under India’s anti-terrorism financing framework. This update highlights the need for agile compliance mechanisms aligned with international developments.