New Delhi: Every year, Forbes makes a list of the most powerful people in the world drawn from government, business, religion and other fields. In 2012 US president Barack Obama topped the chart.Forbes' judges use four criteria to determine the top leaders: How many they govern; how much money they oversee; how many spheres of influence they tout; and how actively they use their powers to influence and change the world.Here is the list:1. Vladimir Putin The controversial Russian president batted away competition from OMr bama, Bill Gates and the Pope to claim the top spot on Forbes's annual list of the world's most powerful and influential people.2. Barack Obama US president Barack Obama has been ousted from the number one spot on Forbes' list of most powerful people by Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.3. Xi Jinping He is the paramount political and military leader of China. Xi exercises near dictatorial control over 1.3 billion people (close to 20% of the world's population).4. Pope FrancisThe first non-European pope in 1,200 years, and the first from Latin America, Francis has established a fresh direction for the papacy, focusing more on compassion and helping the poor than his predecessors.5. Angela MerkelGerman chancellor Angela Merkel was the top-placed woman at number five. Merkel is fresh off a commanding reelection victory, and has served as ¬chancellor since 2005.6. Bill GatesMicrosoft tycoon and philanthropist Bill Gates took the sixth place. Gates is the wealthiest man in the U.S.7. Ben BernankeUS Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke was at number seven. The former Princeton professor's decisive actions and policies helped to avert a global economic meltdown during late 2000s fiscal crisis, and jump-started a still-moderate U.S. recovery.8. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz al-Saud He is the King of Saudi Arabia. He ascended to the throne on 1 August 2005 upon the death of his half-brother, King Fahd.9. Mario DraghiHe is an Italian banker and economist who succeeded Jean-Claude Trichet as the President of the European Central Bank on 1 November 2011.10. Michael DukeMichael T. Duke, chief executive officer of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. secures tenth place
