The list of 50 most powerful Indians
1. Narendra Modi
Prime Minister of India
Why
Narendra Modi dominates India’s political landscape, from forcing a nation of 1.3 billion to follow strict lockdown rules to putting India on the path to developing and distributing indigenous Covid-19 vaccines. And he is the first person in the list of 50 most powerful Indians.
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During the border standoff, he staged a diplomatic coup against China by pledging to send vaccines manufactured in India to other countries — over 70 countries and counting. On February 10, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who had spoken out against the farmers’ protest, called the PM to seek support for his country’s vaccination efforts and was assured of assistance.
2. Amit Shah
Union Home Minister
Why
Despite stepping down as party president in 2019, Shah remains the BJP’s de facto leader and plays an important role in the organization. The BJP’s ideological pot has been on a constant boil under him, from scrapping Article 370 in August 2019 to pushing through the Citizenship (Amendment) Act despite protests to now leading the party’s Ram Mandir drive.
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He was able to persuade former Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia and nearly two dozen MLAs to leave the party, effectively destabilizing the Kamal Nath government and restoring Shivraj Singh Chouhan to power.
3. Mohan Bhagwat
RSS chief
Why
The RSS is pushing ideological projects with greater vigor under Bhagwat, bolstered by the Supreme Court’s Ram Temple judgment. The RSS is said to have pushed several BJP states to pass love jihad legislation. While the Sangh has assisted the BJP in increasing its electoral strength, it has also become more assertive in pressing the BJP on key national issues such as the ongoing farmers’ protests.
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Despite his lack of an official position, Bhagwat participated in the Ram temple foundation-laying ceremony in August 2020, imprinting the RSS mark on the project. Furthermore, despite the Ram Janmabhoomi decision, Bhagwat has restrained the Sangh’s long-standing demands of a similar nature in Kashi and Mathura.
4. J P Nadda
President, Bharatiya Janata Party
Why
Nadda has effortlessly slipped into his role as party chief in the BJP, where Narendra Modi and Amit Shah loom large. Nadda has presided over an extensive outreach program for the party during the lockdown since taking over in January 2020. He also launched an awareness campaign in polluted Bengal about the new farm laws.
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Nadda led the BJP’s campaign in Bihar, where the party not only won the coalition election but also reduced its powerful ally, the JD(U), to a junior partner.
5. Mukesh Ambani
Chairman and MD, Reliance Industries
Why
Why is Mukesh Ambani the Chairman, MD, and majority shareholder of Reliance Industries, India’s largest company by market capitalization and a leader in retail and telecommunications? Ambani is the richest person in Asia and counted among the 50 most powerful Indians and the seventh richest person in the world, with assets worth around $80 billion (in 2020).
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RIL, led by Mukesh Ambani, has raised approximately Rs 2.5 lakh crore ($34 billion) since April 2020 through a combination of stake sales in its retail and digital services segments and a rights issue offering.
6. Rajnath Singh
Minister of Defence
Why
Singh, a former agriculture minister in the Vajpayee Cabinet, is expected to emerge as the government’s key point person in defusing the protracted farmers’ protests.
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In one of the worst military standoffs with China, which began in May 2020, Singh’s decision to cross the LAC and capture strategic heights in the Kailash Range provided India with leverage to negotiate and have Finger 4 on Pangong Tso’s north bank vacated.
7. Ajit Doval
National Security Advisor
Why
Doval is still one of the most powerful officials in the government after nearly seven years as NSA director. He has the PM’s complete trust and is regarded as one of the most powerful NSAs since the office was established with Brajesh Mishra as its first occupant.
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In the last three months, his conversations with his Pakistan counterpart, Moeed Yusuf, in a third country, and communication with Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa resulted in a treaty between the two militaries to uphold the ceasefire agreement. He assisted External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in navigating the crisis along the Line of Actual Control.
8. Nitin Gadkari
Minister of Road Transport and Highways
Why
Gadkari, who projects the image of a doer, has received praise from both within and outside his party. He openly criticizes bureaucratic inertia, isn’t afraid to take on powerful lobbies if they get in the way of his reform agenda, and is open about shortcomings in his ministries. Gadkari, as a former BJP party president close to the RSS, remains a significant power center within the ruling establishment.
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Despite the pandemic, he got the highways sector back on track, with a record level of road construction at the end of the fiscal year. He has also inspired the MSME sector to join the Atmanirbhar push.
9. Nirmala Sitharaman
Union Finance Minister
Why
Sitharaman, a key communicator, expertly guided the economy through the pandemic, from a total shutdown and economic contraction to a successive exit from recession from October-December 20. and she is the one of 50 most powerful Indians
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Apart from providing targeted assistance to needy citizens and businesses last year, Sitharaman has been praised for presenting a Budget that resets the economy, with a clear roadmap of the government exiting various businesses through privatization, a focus on spending to put the economy on a steady growth path, and transparent budget accounting.
10. Gautam Adani
Chairman, Adani Group
Why
Adani, considered close to the current regime, has built the fastest growing conglomerate. Adani Power is India’s largest private power company, while Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone manages the country’s largest commercial port.
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The Adani group has acquired a controlling stake in Mumbai International Airport, as well as six other airports, making it the country’s largest airport operator. It also has a strategic partnership in natural gas and renewables with global oil and gas major Total.
11. Ravi Shankar Prasad
Union Minister for Law and Justice, Communications, Electronics, and Information Technology
Why
Ravi Shankar Prasad’s daily to-do list is longer than that of most of his colleagues because he is the head of three crucial ministries. These ministries have issued more policy and executive changes in the last year than the majority of other ministries combined.
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Soon after taking office in the second term, Prasad prioritized ‘Make in India.’ Even before the Prime Minister called for Big Tech, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology was developing schemes and incentives to attract and expand the presence of top global mobile manufacturers in India.
12. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
Union External Affairs Minister
Why
He has led the government’s foreign policy agenda, which has become increasingly intertwined with domestic issues. He is New Delhi’s voice at the global high table, whether it is in the aftermath of the Art. 370 abrogation, protests against the CAA-NRC, posturing towards China, or vaccine diplomacy.
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Due to his long experience as ambassador to China and, later, as Foreign Secretary, he has been one of the key interlocutors with Beijing during the border standoff since May last year. In September, in Moscow, he built on discussions between Indian and Chinese defense ministers to resolve the border crisis, which resulted in the first round of disengagement.
13. Yogi Adityanath
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister
Why
Yogi Adityanath has emerged as one of the BJP’s star campaigners since becoming chief minister of Uttar Pradesh in 2017, with candidates seeking his presence at public meetings across the country during elections.
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Celebratory events he organized around Ayodhya allowed him to stake a claim to the political capital being built around the Ram Temple construction.
14. Uddhav Thackeray
Maharashtra Chief Minister and Shiv Sena chief
Why
Despite initial concerns about its stability, Thackeray’s Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government with Congress and the NCP has completed one year in office.
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Despite the state’s high rate of infection, Thackeray has received praise for his government’s efficient response to the pandemic. He has also emerged as a staunch opponent of the BJP, frequently confronting them on issues ranging from Hindutva to the economy to Centre-state relations. The MVA government also defeated the BJP in the state legislative council elections, losing the RSS’s Nagpur seat after 55 years.
15. B L Santhosh
National General Secretary (Organisation), BJP
Why
Many people were surprised by his elevation to the second most powerful position in the BJP, but he has emerged as a strong and vocal leader.
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He persuaded the BJP’s central leadership to reject Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa’s Rajya Sabha nominees in June last year.
16. Piyush Goyal
Union Minister for Railways, Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs
Why
Following the death of former Lok Janshakti Party president Ram Vilas Paswan, he was given the additional charge of the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, indicating the PM’s confidence in his ability to step up despite his existing responsibilities.
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Goyal has led India’s tough stance on large trade treaties. Trade with China has also seen a potentially positive development, with exports to the country increasing while imports have continued to fall in the last year. India has also introduced modern semi-high speed trains with premium services under his leadership.
17. Sharad Pawar
President, Nationalist Congress Party
Why
Pawar is the chief architect of the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, which is comprised of an unlikely triumvirate of the Shiv Sena, Congress, and the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).
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Despite widespread defections from his Nationalist Congress Party in the run-up to the State Assembly elections and a failed revolt by his nephew Ajit Pawar, the NCP’s 80-year-old founder scripted the party’s electoral revival in the 2019 elections. As a chief troubleshooter, he keeps the MVA together and is the driving force behind Thackeray’s government.
18. General MM Naravane
The Indian Army Chief
Why
Naravane is the commander of the Indian Army, which fought on both the northern and western borders last year. While the border with Pakistan has been volatile for a long time, the Line of Actual Control with China has been the focus. Under Naravane’s leadership, the Army gained tactical ground to dominate China’s Moldo Garrison and the strategically sensitive Spanggur Gap in a standoff at Galwan Valley that turned violent in June 2020.
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Unlike previous standoffs with China, this was the first time senior military officers were directly involved in negotiations. The security establishment believes that the military leadership stood firm, possibly laying the groundwork for future talks.
19. PK Mishra
Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister
Why
He is regarded as one of the most powerful bureaucrats in the country, and his proximity to Prime Minister Modi gives him clout. He’s been with him since his days in Gujarat. He was promoted to the position of Principal Secretary during the Modi government’s second term.
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He is well-known for his role in putting bureaucrats in high-level government positions. He oversaw the federal government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic. He presides over high-level review meetings that include the Cabinet Secretary and all empowered committee members.
20. Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Chairperson
Why
She has previously served as a minister in both the CongÂrÂess and the BJP governments at the Centre. She rose to power in West Bengal by opposing the Left Front government’s land acquisition policies, effectively ending its 34-year rule.
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She was instrumental in bringing together an alliance of opposition parties against the BJP prior to the 2019 elections as a fighter and a mass leader. She was one of the country’s first chief ministers to criticize the Centre’s moves, from demonetization to the nationwide Covid lockdown. She is making the BJP’s mighty electoral machinery sweat ahead of the Assembly elections.
21. Arvind Kejriwal
Delhi Chief Minister
Why
The former anti-corruption activist who raged against the political class is now in his third term as Delhi’s Chief Minister. The AAP nearly repeated its 2015 Assembly election victory, winning 62 of 70 seats in the Capital in 2020. Kejriwal’s mass appeal propelled the party to power, dampening the BJP’s hyper-nationalist assault.
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Its success in Delhi has accelerated the AAP’s plan to expand nationally. In Surat, it finished second in local body elections, reducing the Congress’s tally to zero. His “Desh bhakti” curriculum incorporates both education and politics. In Delhi, he hopes to seize control of civic bodies in the 2022 elections.
22. Narendra Singh Tomar
Union Cabinet Minister for Agriculture and Farmer Welfare, Rural Development, and Panchayat Raj
Why
Tomar has emerged as the ruling dispensation’s chief negotiator, leading talks with representatives of farmer unions protesting the three farm laws. While talks have failed to break the impasse, Tomar has ensured that the groundwork for the next round is laid. He was also instrumental in the BJP regaining power in Madhya Pradesh.
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Tomar is the minister with the most portfolios among Union ministers. His ministries, NREGA and PM Kisan Samman Nidhi, have been critical in the government’s response to the coronavirus pandemic.
23. Ashok Gehlot
Rajasthan Chief Minister
Why
Despite attempts by party rebels and the BJP, he has a firm grip on the government as Chief Minister of one of the few remaining Congress-ruled states. While the Congress continues to shrink in other areas, Gehlot exudes confidence, repeatedly rebutting critics.
Power Punch
Outmaneuvered his opponents and defeated a rebellion led by his former deputy Sachin Pilot. The ‘Bhilwara model’ of Covid-19 management implemented by the state was replicated in many towns across the country.
24. Sonia Gandhi
President, Indian National Congress
Why
Gandhi, the Congress’s interim president, is still the final word in India’s grand old party. She may have reduced her public appearances, but she is still the undisputed leader of her party.
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She survived the party’s crisis after 23 dissidents demanded reforms in a letter. She asked the G23 dissidents to move on at the Congress Working Committee meeting where it was decided that she would remain interim president.
25. Rahul Gandhi
Congress leader
Why
Despite the fact that he is not a member of Congress, the Lok Sabha MP from Wayanad is the de facto leader of his party. The Gandhis’ dominance in Congress is undeniable, and for the vast majority of the party, Rahul is the future; for many, however, he is the reason for the party’s decline.
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He is one of the few Opposition leaders who can still spook the ruling establishment. With Sonia Gandhi imprisoned at home, Gandhi is leading the Congress campaign in the Assembly elections.
26. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra
General Secretary, Indian National Congress
Why
Priyanka is gradually emerging as the face of the Congress in Uttar Pradesh, emerging from her mother’s shadow. She wields enormous power in the AICC as general secretary and member of the Congress Working Committee.
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Priyanka has been touring the state extensively, addressing Kisan maha panchayat, in order to project herself as the face of the Congress in UP. Her visible campaign presence in Assam sends a message that she is looking beyond UP.
27. Manohar Lal Khattar
Haryana Chief Minister
Why
Khattar, a non-Jat, has successfully served a second term as Chief Minister in a state dominated by Jat leaders. Despite several attacks from the opposition, his clean image has kept him popular.
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Despite the initial setbacks in the 2019 Assembly elections, when the BJP fell short of a majority and had to form an alliance with the Dushyant Chautala-led JJP, Khattar has managed to keep the government stable — even in the face of an ongoing farmers’ agitation and widespread protests by Opposition parties.
28. Mayawati
National President, Bahujan Samaj Party
Why
While the BSP won only 19 of the 403 Assembly seats in UP in 2017 and 10 of the 80 Lok Sabha seats, Mayawati remains the state’s most powerful mobilizer of the Bahujan Samaj. That is why, despite being rejected several times, Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad continues to court her.
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Mayawati got a member of her party elected to the Rajya Sabha last year by convincing the BJP to back her candidate.
29. Sunil Bharti Mittal
Founder and chairman, Bharti Enterprises
Why
Sunil Bharti Mittal, son of Congress politician Sat Paul Mittal, has had a difficult few years as chairman of Bharti Enterprises due to the arrival of a rival telecom company with deep pockets. While many other players have given up, Mittal and his companies have not. Mittal’s companies have a global presence in industries ranging from telecommunications to insurance and real estate to food and renewable energy.
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Despite early losses, Bharti Airtel has steadily gained more subscribers than its competitors.
30. Virat Kohli
Indian cricket captain
Why
Kohli, the most influential player in the game, is also the best all-rounder in the world. He has a pan-India cult following and more than 40 million Twitter followers, more than any Indian political party.
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His intense drive and commitment to fitness make him one of the most consistent modern-day cricketers, averaging over 50 in all three formats. He leads a talented young team with intimidating bench strength and the potential to dominate world cricket. He is one half of a power couple with lasting brand value, married to actress Anuskha Sharma.
31. Sachin Pilot
Former Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan
Why
As state Congress president, Pilot was tasked with reviving the Congress in Rajasthan after the party was reduced to 21 after the 2013 Assembly elections. The pilot led the party to several by-election victories before Congress won control of the state legislature in the 2018 elections. Despite losing the CM race to Ashok Gehlot, Pilot, a Gujjar, attracts supporters from all demographics, despite the fact that caste is a major factor in Rajasthan politics.
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During the month-long political crisis that followed his feud with Gehlot, Pilot chose to remain silent and let his supporters do the talking, a strategy that paid off when he met with the Congress high command to reach a truce. Despite not being a member of the government, Pilot has established himself as a separate power center within the state Congress.
32. Manoj Sinha
Lt-Governor, J&K
Why
Running Jammu and Kashmir has never been easy, especially since its special status was revoked and it was reduced to two Union territories. In the absence of an elected government, Sinha must provide administration to J&K.
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For decades, the Centre has appointed a retired bureaucrat or a former Army or intelligence officer as Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. The Modi administration relied on Sinha, a senior BJP leader from Uttar Pradesh, to handle the situation in the Valley at this critical juncture. He oversaw the smooth running of the District Development Council elections, J&K’s first political exercise since the repeal of Article 370.
33. Shaktikanta Das
Governor, Reserve Bank of India
Why
As governor of the RBI, Das takes the lead in developing and implementing the country’s monetary policy. As the banking sector’s regulator and the government’s money manager, he has walked a fine line.
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When the Covid-19 pandemic struck the country in March 2020, Das announced several measures to maintain financial stability. The RBI, led by him, has taken an accommodative stance, lowering interest rates and inflation to boost growth, pumping more liquidity into the system, and announcing measures such as a loan moratorium for borrowers affected by the pandemic.
34. Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Chief Minister, Madhya Pradesh
Why
Chouhan became Madhya Pradesh’s Chief Minister for the fourth time after 22 Congress MLAs defected to the BJP last year, toppling the Kamal Nath-led Congress government.
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He has managed to strike a balance between defected MLAs seeking higher-level government positions and those from his own party who felt marginalized after their induction. Despite the fact that the state is an agricultural hub, he has ensured that the farmers’ protests have not spread.
35. Azim Premji
Founder chairman, Wipro
Why
He is known as the “czar” of the Indian IT industry, but he is also known for his philanthropy. During the 2019-2020 fiscal year, he donated approximately $3 million per day to education, outpacing donations by any other Indian billionaire.
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During the Covid-19 pandemic, he donated $132 million to the Prime Minister’s emergency fund through his foundation.
36. Jay Shah
BCCI Secretary
Why
Shah is also the head of the Asian Cricket Council and the most powerful administrator of the world’s richest cricket board. While Sourav Ganguly, the BCCI president, is based in Kolkata and the Board’s headquarters are in Mumbai, Shah, the secretary — technically second in the hierarchy — has ensured that Indian cricket’s power center has relocated to his home base in Ahmedabad. Following the pink ball Test, the world’s largest stadium will host the IPL and World T20 finals.
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Being the son of Home Minister Amit Shah provides Jay with political clout in the boardrooms of Indian cricket. It also helps the Board open doors in New Delhi.
37. Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury
Leader of Congress in Lok Sabha
Why
As the leader of the main opposition party, he represents the opposition on key government panels that select the CBI Director, the Central Vigilance Commissioner, the Central Information Commissioner, the NHRC Chairman and members, as well as the Lokpal. He is also the chairman of Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee.
Power punch
He was outspoken in his opposition to the appointment of Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha, a former Indian Foreign Service officer and Information Commissioner, as the new Chief Information Commissioner. He voiced his disapproval.
38. Baba Ramdev
Co-Founder, Patanjali Ayurved
Why
Baba Ramdev, once a prominent BJP supporter, has since stepped away from politics to focus on his business. Despite this, he remains politically influential due to his large following and close ties to the ruling establishment.
Power Punch
Patanjali Ayurved, which contributes significantly to the Patanjali Group’s revenues, reported net profits of Rs 423 crore for the fiscal
39. Asaduddin Owaisi
President, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
Why
In the Hyderabad constituency, he is unopposed. The AIMIM has expanded in Telangana, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Bihar, and, most recently, Gujarat under his leadership.
Power Punch
The AIMIM has joined forces with the IndiÂpenÂdents to form Godhra’s municipal board.
40. Nitish Kumar
Bihar Chief Minister
Why
Despite the fact that the BJP has emerged as the NDA’s senior partner, with 74 Assembly seats to the JD(U43, ) he remains the alliance’s indispensable leader in Bihar. With the RJD-led Grand Alliance securing 110 seats, just 12 short of a simple majority, the BJP would not attempt to destabilize the state’s government.
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Nitish continues to be the NDA’s development face in the state. With the BJP’s tallest leader, Sushil Kumar Modi, elected to Rajya Sabha, the Bihar BJP has yet to field a leader who can compete with Nitish’s popularity. The BJP is also concerned about Nitish switching sides again if forced to choose.
41. Byju Raveendran
Founder & CEO, BYJU’s
Why
He is the CEO of the world’s second-largest ed-tech platform. By addressing product challenges, the company has revolutionized India’s private education system. The company reported revenues of Rs 2,800 crore for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2020, more than doubling from the previous year.
Power Punch
Byju’s paid $300 million for the online coding platform WhiteHat Jr in 2020, making it the largest acquisition deal in the ed-tech sector.
42. Ratan Tata
Chairman Emeritus, Tata Sons
Why
Though he stepped down as Chairman of the Tata Group in 2012, he remains the driving force behind the Tata group of companies, which has an annual revenue of more than US $110 billion and a market capitalization of more than $165 billion.
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As the chairman of Tata Trusts, which owns approximately 66% of Tata Sons, the Tata group’s holding company, he wields considerable influence within the group, and all major decisions are reportedly made in consultation with him. He supports the current chairman of Tata Sons, N Chandrasekaran.
43. Late. General Bipin Rawat
Chief of Defence Staff
Why
As the country’s first Chief of Defence Staff, he is first among equals among the chiefs of the three armed forces. He is the government’s chief military advisor and has a say in all major strategies.
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As Secretary of Military Affairs, he is also in charge of prioritizing capital acquisition among the forces. With the Army, Navy, and Air Force in desperate need of modernization, and the capital acquisition budget falling short year after year, the CDS will assist in prioritizing needs.
44. Vijay Shekhar Sharma
Founder and CEO, Paytm
Why
Paytm has evolved from a fin-tech startup to a full-stack financial services conglomerate, with banking services, mutual fund, and stock investment platforms, as well as e-commerce and gaming offerings. Paytm, valued at $16 billion, is India’s most valuable unicorn and, according to reports, the world’s ninth most valuable unicorn.
Power Punch
Paytm was reinstated after Google removed it from its Play Store and Sharma lashed out at the company.
45. Subrahmanyam Jaishankar
Union External Affairs Minister
Why
He has led the government’s foreign policy agenda, which has become increasingly intertwined with domestic issues. He is New Delhi’s voice at the global high table, whether it is in the aftermath of the Art. 370 abrogation, protests against the CAA-NRC, posturing towards China, or vaccine diplomacy.
Power Punch
Due to his long experience as ambassador to China and, later, as Foreign Secretary, he has been one of the key interlocutors with Beijing during the border standoff since May last year. In September, in Moscow, he built on discussions between Indian and Chinese defense ministers to resolve the border crisis, which resulted in the first round of disengagement.
46. YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister
Why
Reddy led his party, the YSRCP, to victory in the 2019 elections, despite spending 16 months in prison in a disproportionate assets case and undertaking a 3,648-km-long padayatra. The government is launching dozens of welfare programs aimed at all segments of society, and Reddy is extremely popular.
Power Punch
Reddy’s party defeated the main opposition Telugu Desam Party in recent panchayat elections; the TDP even lost in Kuppam, the constituency of party chief N Chandrababu Naidu.
47. Yogesh Chander Modi
Director-General, National Investigation Agency
Why
Yogesh Chander Modi’s NIA has been a key agency in implementing the government’s security agenda in Kashmir. It has not only cracked down on the Hurriyat and other separatists but has also targeted Kashmiri NGOs perceived by the establishment to be “anti-India.” The vast majority of those arrested by the NIA has been denied bail.
Power Punch
Modi has broadened the NIA’s mandate by investigating several cases of gold smuggling. In the case of terror funding, the NIA recently summoned some people associated with the ongoing farmers’ protests.
48. Rajiv Gauba
Cabinet Secretary
Why
From joint secretary in the UPA government’s Ministry of Environment and Forests to Home Secretary and then Cabinet Secretary in the Modi government, the 1982-batch IAS officer has come a long way. Gauba, Prime Minister Modi’s top central bureaucrat, has led the government’s response to the pandemic and coordinated the efforts of various Union Ministries and state governments to address the crisis.
Power Punch
Gauba has emerged as a powerful figure in the government following the departure of Nripendra Misra from the PMO. He is a go-getter, and his subordinates describe him as a demanding taskmaster.
49. Farooq Abdullah
Jammu & Kashmir National Conference Chairman
Why
When Mehbooba Mufti was imprisoned, he took the initiative to forge an alliance for the restoration of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status. The region’s mainstream parties, including the NC, PDP, and People’s Conference, ran together in the District Development Council elections under the banner of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD).
Power Punch
At an age when most people choose to retire from public life, Abdullah is not only active but has taken the initiative following the revocation of Jammu Kashmir’s special status on August 5, 2019. He is the PAGD’s president.
50. Mehbooba Mufti
President, Peoples Democratic Party
Why
Mehbooba Mufti, unlike most other mainstream leaders in J&K, is one of the few who has spoken out against the Centre and its policies in Kashmir. Her appointment as vice president of the People’s Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) has contributed to her rise in prominence.
Power Punch
She has openly called for talks with Pakistan at a politically charged time. Her position has been validated by recent talks between the armies of the two countries, which resulted in a ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC).
