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Politics: Pranab Mukherjee

Age: 73
External Affairs Minister

Mukherjee is one of the grizzled survivors of Indian politics, having worn many caps during his Cabinet years. In the 1980s he served as Finance Minister and this year presented an interim budget as Acting Finance Minister while Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was ill. But more important, he is known as an influential behind-the-scenes operator during the coalition-building process, especially with the regional parties.

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