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Sonia, Manmohan on Forbes' most powerful list

Business magazine Forbes has come out with a list of the world's 70 most powerful people this year. It's no surprise that several Indian personalities have found their place in the rankings.

With ever increasing economic and political clout of India, more Indians could soon find a slot in one of the most coveted rankings in the world.

  • Business magazine Forbes has come out with a list of the world's 70 most powerful people this year. It's no surprise that several Indian personalities have found their place in the rankings.<br><br>With ever increasing economic and political clout of India, more Indians could soon find a slot in one of the most coveted rankings in the world.
    Business magazine Forbes has come out with a list of the world's 70 most powerful people this year. It's no surprise that several Indian personalities have found their place in the rankings.

    With ever increasing economic and political clout of India, more Indians could soon find a slot in one of the most coveted rankings in the world.
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  • Congress President Sonia Gandhi has been ranked 11th and comes out as the most powerful Indian.<br><br>Forbes describes her as a politician who has "twice refused to serve as prime minister, delegating that job to Manmohan Singh".
    Congress President Sonia Gandhi has been ranked 11th and comes out as the most powerful Indian.

    Forbes describes her as a politician who has "twice refused to serve as prime minister, delegating that job to Manmohan Singh".
  • Indian PM Manmohan Singh is the 19th most powerful personality in the world according to the magazine that describes him as "the incorruptible Cambridge- and Oxford-educated economist (is) widely respected as the man behind India's economic reforms?. Mr Singh, however, dropped a notch to the latest position.
    Indian PM Manmohan Singh is the 19th most powerful personality in the world according to the magazine that describes him as "the incorruptible Cambridge- and Oxford-educated economist (is) widely respected as the man behind India's economic reforms”. Mr Singh, however, dropped a notch to the latest position.
  • Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal is placed at 47th place on the Forbes list. Mr Mittal is the chairman and chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel making company.
    Steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal is placed at 47th place on the Forbes list. Mr Mittal is the chairman and chief executive officer of ArcelorMittal, the world's largest steel making company.
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  • Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries has been ranked as the 35th most powerful person in the world.<br><br> He is the second richest man in Asia and the ninth richest man in the world with a personal wealth of $27 billion.
    Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries has been ranked as the 35th most powerful person in the world.

    He is the second richest man in Asia and the ninth richest man in the world with a personal wealth of $27 billion.
  • Azim Hashim Premji, chairman of software major Wipro has been ranked 61st most powerful. Mr Premji has guided the company through four decades of diversification and growth to emerge as one of the biggest leaders in the software industry.
    Azim Hashim Premji, chairman of software major Wipro has been ranked 61st most powerful. Mr Premji has guided the company through four decades of diversification and growth to emerge as one of the biggest leaders in the software industry.
  • US President Barack Obama is the most powerful personality in the world. He is the first African American to hold the office. Currently, Mr Obama is in Cannes at the G20 summit.
    US President Barack Obama is the most powerful personality in the world. He is the first African American to hold the office. Currently, Mr Obama is in Cannes at the G20 summit.
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  • Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has been ranked as the second most powerful personality in the world.
    Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has been ranked as the second most powerful personality in the world.
  • Chinese President Hu Jintao, who rules over one-fifth of world's population, has been toppled by the US President Barack Obama to the third place. The magazine cites Mr Jintao's diminishing influence, as he gives up political office, as the main reason for losing his top ranking.
    Chinese President Hu Jintao, who rules over one-fifth of world's population, has been toppled by the US President Barack Obama to the third place. The magazine cites Mr Jintao's diminishing influence, as he gives up political office, as the main reason for losing his top ranking.
  • At number four, German Chancellor Angela Merkel remained the most powerful woman on the list reflecting the might of Europe's largest economy amid the debt crisis.
    At number four, German Chancellor Angela Merkel remained the most powerful woman on the list reflecting the might of Europe's largest economy amid the debt crisis.
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  • Microsoft founder Bill Gates occupies fifth slot on the list. He has been consistently ranked among the world's wealthiest people. Mr Gates has been the richest person on Earth from 1995 to 2009, excluding 2008, when he was ranked third.
    Microsoft founder Bill Gates occupies fifth slot on the list. He has been consistently ranked among the world's wealthiest people. Mr Gates has been the richest person on Earth from 1995 to 2009, excluding 2008, when he was ranked third.
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