Daily Compliance Brief — RBI Updates Terrorist Sanctions Screening Requirements

September 7, 2026

Signal

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) issued a September 7, 2026 compliance directive implementing amendments to the UN Security Council's ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaida sanctions list. The notification, RBI/2026-27/253, requires covered regulated entities to apply the updated listings under India's UAPA framework.

According to the RBI notification, the requirement applies across commercial banks, payment banks, cooperative banks, NBFCs, asset reconstruction companies, and other specified financial institutions. The action follows amendments made by the UN Security Council on September 4, 2026.

The update places the revised UN designations directly into the operational screening obligations of India's regulated financial sector, requiring institutions to account for the amended entries within existing sanctions-control processes.

Why it matters

Firms operating in India should validate that customer, account, and transaction screening processes incorporate the amended ISIL and Al-Qaida entries without delay.

Screening controls, escalation procedures, and sanctions-related case management should be reviewed to ensure updates to UN designations are reflected across relevant systems and regulated entities.