Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, 3 other Indians on Forbes' list of world's 100 most powerful women

Forbes' has released its annual list of the 100 most powerful women in the world which features Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman at the 32nd spot. Roshni Nadar Malhotra, Soma Mondal and Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw are the three others who have made it to the list.

Nirmala Sitharaman, India's Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs since 2019, marked a significant rise, climbing to the 32nd spot after securing the 36th position in Forbes' 2022 list. Sitharaman is India's first full-time female finance minister, having previously served as the 28th Defence Minister.

Roshni Nadar Malhotra, 42, chairs HCL Technologies and stands among Forbes' powerful women, steadily ranking from 54th in 2019 to 60th in 2023.

Soma Mondal, the current Chairperson of the Steel Authority of India, holds the distinction of being the first woman in this role. Her remarkable career trajectory saw her rise from NALCO to become a key leader at SAIL, earning accolades like 'CEO of the Year' at the ETPrime Women Leadership Awards.

Renowned entrepreneur Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, known for her leadership at Biocon Limited, Biocon Biologics Limited, and her contributions to science, appears on the list at the 76th position.

Forbes' 100 most power women: Top 5

Ursula von der Leyen maintains her standing as the world's most influential woman, securing the top position for the second consecutive year. Born on October 8, 1958, in Belgium, she became the European Commission's president in July 2019, marking a historic milestone as the first woman to hold this pivotal role

Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank, claims the second spot, while U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris retains third place. Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni secures the fourth position.

A groundbreaking moment unfolds as 33-year-old American singer-songwriter Taylor Swift claims the fifth spot, marking the first time an entertainer has entered the top five in the list's history.