Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has once again been included in the Forbes annual list of powerful women: the 100 most powerful women in the world. This year she is in 32nd place.
The list covers diverse sectors such as politics and policy, business, finance, media and entertainment, with influential women from around the world.
Sitharaman was appointed Finance Minister of India in May 2019 and is also Minister of Corporate Affairs. Before her career in politics, Sitharaman held positions at the British Agricultural Engineers Association and BBC World Service. She was also a member of the National Commission for Women.
Other notable Indians who have made their mark include Roshni Nadar at number 60 in Technology, SAIL's Soma Mondal at 70th position in Business, and Kiran Mazumdar Shaw who secured the 76th spot, also in the Business sector.
Every year, the American business magazine publishes a list of 100 powerful women of the world. According to Forbes, it determines the rankings based on four key metrics: money, media, impact and spheres of influence. For political leaders, the magazine weighed gross domestic product and population; for business leaders, revenues, valuations and employee numbers were critical.
According to Forbes, this year's list highlights the ongoing global struggle for women's reproductive autonomy, girls' access to education, their rights, protection from gender-based violence in conflict zones like Ukraine and Gaza, and actionable climate policies that support the health and well-being of protects women. women's well-being in lower-income and agricultural-based economies.
Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, European Union has achieved the highest spot on the list in 2023. At number two is Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank. US Vice President Kamala Harris is at number three, followed by Giorgia Meloni, Prime Minister of Italy. The list also highlights influential women across industries, with Taylor Swift achieving her highest ranking ever at number 5.