On October 27 and October 19, 2026, the RBI issued advisories updating financial institutions on amendments to three entries in the UNSC's ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida sanctions list under Section 51A of UAPA, 1967.
RBI Updates ISIL & Al-Qaida Sanctions List: 3 Entries Amended
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued two advisories on October 27 and October 19, 2026, notifying financial institutions of amendments to three entries in the United Nations Security Council’s 1267/1989 ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List. These updates were communicated under Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), mandating immediate action by all regulated entities to freeze assets and cease transactions involving designated individuals.
The advisories require all commercial banks, small finance banks, payment banks, co-operative banks, NBFCs, and financial institutions to review their customer databases and transaction logs to ensure compliance. Section 51A of UAPA obligates these entities to act upon UNSC-mandated designations without delay. The RBI reiterated that non-compliance could result in penal action under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA).
These notifications reflect the RBI's proactive role in synchronizing domestic financial systems with global counter-terrorism financing standards. Legal practitioners should advise clients to strengthen due diligence frameworks, particularly in cross-border transactions. Institutions must document compliance actions and report to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU-IND) where necessary. Continuous monitoring and staff training on sanctions lists are now critical components of AML compliance.
Citations
- Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967
- PMLA, 2002
