**Executive Summary**
This document informs regulated entities about the delisting of one entry from the ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List, as decided by the UNSC Committee. Regulated entities must ensure no accounts are held for individuals or entities appearing on this list. The changes are effective immediately following the UNSC press release dated February 27, 2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **UAPA, 1967 Compliance:** Regulated entities must comply with Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, ensuring no accounts are maintained for individuals or entities listed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC).
* **UNSC Delisting:** The UNSC Committee has decided to remove one entry from the ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions List.
* **Consequence of Delisting:** The associated assets freeze, travel ban, and arms embargo no longer apply to the delisted entry.
* **Affected Entry:** The delisted entity is "AL-NUSRAH FRONT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE LEVANT" (QDe.137) and its various aliases.
* **Effective Date:** The removal from the UNSC Sanctions List is effective immediately upon the UNSC press release dated February 27, 2026.
* **Updated Lists:** Updated lists of individuals and entities linked to ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaida, and Taliban are available on the provided URLs.
* **De-listing Requests:** Requests for de-listing received by regulated entities must be forwarded to the Joint Secretary (CTCR), Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Individuals or entities can also submit de-listing requests to the UN Secretary-General's appointed Ombudsperson.
**Impact Analysis**
**Chairpersons/CEOs of Financial Institutions**
* **Impact:** They are responsible for ensuring their institutions comply with the UAPA Act and UNSC sanctions. The delisting of an entity requires updating internal lists and processes to reflect this change, potentially unfreezing assets or removing travel restrictions if previously applied.
* **Action Required:** Take appropriate action in terms of Chapter IX of the Reserve Bank of India - Know Your Customer, Directions, 2025 and follow the procedures laid down in the UAPA Order. Ensure internal systems and records are updated to reflect the delisting of QDe.137.
**Regulated Entities**
* **Impact:** Need to update their internal lists and procedures to remove the delisted entity. They are also advised to ensure meticulous compliance with UNSC communications.
* **Action Required:** Review accounts and ensure no association with the delisted entry. Forward any de-listing requests received to the Joint Secretary (CTCR), MHA. Ensure meticulous compliance with UNSC communications.
Key Entities Referenced
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) (UAPA) Act, 1967: The primary legislation under which actions related to terrorist individuals and entities are taken.
United Nations Security Council (UNSC): The international body that approves and circulates lists of individuals and entities suspected of terrorist links.
ISIL (Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List: A specific list maintained by the UNSC of individuals and entities subject to sanctions.
Reserve Bank of India - Know Your Customer, Directions, 2025: The regulatory guidelines issued by the RBI that mandate compliance with UAPA and UNSC directives.
Ministry of External Affairs (MEA): The Indian government ministry that communicates UNSC decisions and press releases to domestic entities.
RBI/2025-26/225
DOR. AML.REC.415/14.06.001/2025-26 March 02, 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 1267/ 1989 ISIL
(Da'esh) & Al-Qaida Sanctions List: Delisting of 01 entry
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 as amended on December
29, 2025 (“Directions”), as applicable, in terms of 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/16306 dated February 27, 2026 wherein the
Security Council Committee has decided to remove the entry below from the ISIL
(Da’esh) and Al Qaida Sanctions List.
‑
2.1 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 removed the entry below from the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al Qaida
‑
Sanctions List. Therefore, the assets freeze, travel ban and arms embargo set out in
‑
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do not respond in any manner to such offers."2
paragraph 1 of Security Council resolution 2734 (2024) and adopted under Chapter VII
of the Charter of the United Nations, no longer apply to the name set out below:
Entities and groups
QDe.137 Name: AL-NUSRAH FRONT FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE LEVANT
Name (original script): مﺎﺷﻟا لھﻷ ةرﺻﻧﻟا ﺔﮭﺑﺟ
A.k.a.: a) Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) (مﺎﺷﻟا رﯾرﺣﺗ ﺔﺋﯾھ (original script); Hay’at Tahrir al-
Sham; Hay’et Tahrir al-Sham; Hayat Tahrir al-Sham; Assembly for the Liberation of
Syria; Assembly for the Liberation of the Levant; Liberation of al-Sham Commission;
Liberation of the Levant Organisation Tahrir al-Sham; Tahrir al-Sham Hay’at) b) ﺔﮭﺑﺟ
ةرﺻﻧﻟا (the Victory Front; Jabhat al-Nusrah; Jabhet al-Nusra; Al-Nusrah Front; Al-Nusra
Front) c) مﺎﺷﻟا ﺢﺗﻓ ﺔﮭﺑﺟ (Jabhat Fath al Sham; Jabhat Fath al-Sham; Jabhat Fatah al-Sham;
Jabhat Fateh Al-Sham; Fatah al-Sham Front; Fateh al-Sham Front) d) Conquest of the
Levant Front e) The Front for the Liberation of al Sham f) Front for the Conquest of
Syria/the Levant g) Front for the Liberation of the Levant h) Front for the Conquest of
Syria i) نﯾدھﺎﺟﻣﻟا رﺎﺻﻧأ ﺔﻛﺑﺷ (Ansar al-Mujahideen Network - sub-unit name) j) ﻲﻓ مﺎﺷﻟا ودھﺎﺟﻣ
د ﺎﮭﺟﻟا تﺎﺣﺎﺳ (Levantine Mujahideen on the Battlefields of Jihad - sub-unit
name) F.k.a.: na Address: a) Syrian Arab Republic (Operates in) b) Iraq (Support
network) Listed on: 14 May 2014 ( amended on 7 Jun. 2017, 5 Jun. 2018, 15 Nov. 2021
) Other information: Associated with Al-Qaida (QDe.004). Brought Syrian and foreign
Al-Qaida in Iraq (QDe.115) and Asbat al-Ansar (QDe.007) fighters, along with other
foreign Al-Qaida operatives, to join local elements in Syrian Arab Republic to carry out
terrorist and guerrilla operations there. Previously associated with the Islamic State in
Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), listed as Al-Qaida in Iraq (QDe.115), and its leader Ibrahim
Awwad Ibrahim Ali al-Badri al-Samarrai (QDi.299) but separated from that group in 2013.
In Jul. 2016, Abu Mohammed Al-Jawlani (QDi.317), the leader of Al-Nusrah Front for the
People of the Levant, announced the group had changed its name to Jabhat Fath al-
Sham and was no longer affiliated with any external entity. Despite the announcement
and attempts to distinguish itself from Al-Nusrah Front for the People of the Levant, the
group remains aligned with Al-Qaida and continues to carry out terrorist operations under
this new name. In January 2017, Al-Nusrah Front created Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS)
as a vehicle to advance its position in the Syrian insurgency and further its own goals as
Al-Qaida’s affiliate in Syria. Previously listed between 30 May 2013 and 13 May 2014 as
an aka of Al-Qaida in Iraq (QDe.115). 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. Press release dated February 27, 2026 regarding the above can be found at
https://press.un.org/en/2026/sc16306.doc.htm
The details of the sanction measures and exemptions are available at the following
URL: https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/sanctions/1267#further_information3
4. In view of the above, regulated entities are advised to take appropriate action in terms
of Chapter IX of the aforementioned Directions 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
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 regulated entity 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
7. Regulated entities are advised to take note of the aforementioned UNSC
communications and ensure meticulous compliance.
Yours faithfully,
(Veena Srivastava)
Chief General Manager