Forbes' World's Most Powerful People list 2014: PM Modi ranks 15

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is one of the 12 newcomers in the list, was ranked 15 and described him as a "Hindu nationalist". About the PM, Forbes said, "India's newest rock star doesn't hail from Bollywood."

The next Indian after Modi on the list is Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani at 36th. Ambani has also been featuring in Forbes as India's richest man for eight years running.

Russian President Vladimir Putin topped the list, pipping his United States counterpart Barack Obama for a second year in a row. Forbes said after a year when Putin annexed Crimea its choice of him as the most powerful person "simply seems prescient".

Just like in 2013, the world's most powerful woman German Chancellor Angela Merkel ranked fifth. Forbes said for the first time, two women, Merkel and US Federal Reserve chief Janet Yellen, reached the top 10. In 2014, nine women made it on the list.

ArcelorMittal Chairman and CEO Lakshmi Mittal ranked 57th. For Mittal, Forbes said, "Despite mixed fortunes lately, tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, CEO and chair of ArcelorMittal (revenues:$79 billion), remains the world's biggest steelmaker."

Microsoft's Indian-born CEO Satya Nadella  is another newcomer in the list. He debuts at the 64th position. "The new chief executive of Microsoft as of February is bent on bringing relevance back," says Forbes for Nadella.