When it comes to power, politics trumps business, according to a new Forbes ranking that found heads of state occupying six of the top 10 spots among the world's most powerful people, led by US President Barack Obama. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was ranked 19, while Congress president Sonia Gandhi was 12th.

Barack Obama is the 44th president of the United States, and the first African-American to hold the post. He was elected to a second term in the 2012 election held on November 6.

Barack Obama

 
Angela Merkel is the Chancellor of Germany, the first woman to hold the post. She is effectively the backbone of the 27-member European Union.














Angela Merkel

Vladimir Putin is the President of Russia. He previously served as president from 2000 to 2008, and as Prime Minister from 1999 to 2000, and again from 2008 to 2012. He is serving his current term since May 2012.














Vladimir Putin