Bhubaneswar: Odisha has dominated the Indian Express 100 powerful Indians list. As many half a dozen from Odisha including PK Mishra have found place in the list. Ashwani Vaishnaw in the top 10 ranks along with PM Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Foreign Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has ranked 22 in the list ahead of many BJP and non-BJP State chief ministers and union ministers. Principal Secretary to PM Shaktikanta Das is in 43 rank. Principal Secretary to the PM PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to PM Shaktikanta Das, and SEBI chairman Tuhin Kanta Pandey are also adorning the list of the most powerful Indians.
The Indian Express comes out every year with the list of 100 most powerful personality in the country. The list for 2025 has been published, last week.
The union railway minister Ashwani Vaishnaw has surged to 8 rank from 13 in 2024. Express says, “A relatively new comer to politics, Vaishnaw has a steep growth curve, ending up as one of the top ministers in the cabinet within four years of being inducted in July 2021. In his third term in power, PM Narendra Modi not only gave Vaishnaw the key Railway portfolio again, but also gave him the charge of Electronics & IT and Information & Broadcasting.” What is Vaishnaw’s Power Punch, it adds “In spite of the Opposition’s criticism over train accidents, including the Balasore tragedy in June 2023, Vaishnaw is the PM’s choice for his Railway modernisation plan and the key government face for the integration of technology and policy.”
Dharmendra Pradhan has scored a higher rank of 22 against his 2024 rank 33. Power Punch: Pradhan was key in ensuring the BJP’s victory in Odisha and its third consecutive term in Haryana, where he was the party’s election in-charge.
PK Mishra, the Principal Secretary to PM ranks 78. A 1972-batch IAS officer from Gujarat cadre, Mishra is among the most important bureaucrats in the country, implementing PM’s directives on governance and development policies. Power Punch : Mishra has been a key figure in PMO for 11 years since 2014. He shares a strong working relationship with PM Narendra Modi, having earned his trust.
Shaktikanta Das has ranked 43. The former RBI Governor who joined the PMO as Principal Secretary to PM will be likely to play a key role in negotiating with US in the new Trump Tariff eco system.
Tuhin Kanta Pandey, the new SEBI chief has entered the power list for the first time scoring 84th rank. Pandey as former Revenue Secretary had played a key role in the privatisation of Air India, Nilachal Ispat and the IPO of LIC.
