London: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has been listed as the world's most powerful, influential and contemporary Sikh, according to the first edition of the annual 'Sikh 100' published here. Gursharan Kaur, Prime Minister’s wife is 13th on the list. According to the list, the world's first comprehensive ranking of the most powerful, influential and contemporary Sikhs in the world brought out by the Sikh Directory, 81-year-old Singh is "highly acclaimed as a thinker and a scholar".

"He is well regarded for his diligence and his academic approach to work, as well as his accessibility and his unassuming demeanour", a brief profile of Singh read. Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, 69, ranks as the second most powerful Sikh on the list, released on Saturday night. Jathedar Singh Sahib Giani Gurbachan Singh, current religions head of Sri Akaal Takht Sahib, the supreme religious authority of the Sikhs based in Amritsar, is listed third. He is followed by Chief Minister of Punjab Parkash Singh Badal, who ranks 4th.