Indian Express Power List 2015: Top 10 central bureaucrats

1. P K Mishra

Currently Additional Principal Secretary to PM, he is the man running the PMO, overseeing all crucial tasks, including government appointments.

2. Nripendra Misra

Currently Principal Secretary to PM, the former TRAI chairman is the economy expert in the PMO.

3. S Jaishankar

The Foreign Secretary was brought in three days before his retirement. Has a deep understanding of China, Russia and the US.

4.  Rajiv Mehrishi

His appointment as Finance Secretary was seen as the Modi government’s first step towards putting a team in place ahead of its first full-fledged Budget.

5. Amitabh Kant

The man behind the Incredible India campaign, the DIPP Secretary now spearheads the PM’s flagship ‘Make In India’ programme.

6. LC Goyal

Was picked as Home Secretary after Anil Goswami’s ignominious exit from North Block. The Kerala-cadre officer’s appointment surprised many.

7. Anil Sinha

Pipped several strong contenders to bag top job as CBI Director. He’s now tasked with handling several sensitive cases such as the Saradha scam.

8. Sindhushree Khullar 

The Niti Aayog CEO has had a rather seamless transition from the UPA government to the NDA government.

9. Ram Sewak Sharma

Secretary, Electronics & IT, Sharma helped build the Aadhaar programme and is now the driving force behind the Aadhaar Enabled.

10. Omita Paul

Currently Secretary to the President, she has served with Pranab Mukherjee for many years and wields enormous power. Is a hard task-master.