Modi debuts on Forbes list of world's most powerful

Then Gujarat's Chief Minister Narendra Modi gestures as he walks on the lawn at his residence in this file picture taken June 25, 2013. [Photo/Agencies]

NEW DELHI -- Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has for the first time made it to the Forbes list of world's most powerful people.

Modi has been ranked 15th on the list, which is topped by Russian President Vladimir Putin, while main opposition Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi is out of it, after being the highest ranked Indian at No. 21 last year.

"India's newest rock star doesn't hail from Bollywood. He is the newly-elected Prime Minister who sailed into office in May with a landslide victory, ushering the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) into power after decades of control by the Gandhi dynasty," Forbes said.

The magazine added: "Modi is credited with massive reconstruction projects in his home state of Gujarat. His administration promises to bring economic rejuvenation to other beleaguered parts of India. The world is as impressed as the citizens of India."

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