The rise of Narendra Modi, India's prolific - and complicated - prime minister

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is one of the most influential people on the planet, ranking sixth on Business Insider's list of the 50 most powerful people in the world.

Now in his second year as leader of the world's largest democracy, Modi has extensive plans to reform both business and government agencies in India, and is implementing a uniform federal government sales tax as early as next year. The 65-year-old is also a champion of technology, enthusiastically working with Western companies to help spur India's technological progress.

Modi is a controversial figure - throughout his career, many have accused him of intentionally stoking sectarian tensions between Hindus and Muslims. But his power is undeniable, as he governs a country of nearly 1.3 billion people. India also possesses the world's fifth-strongest military in the world and seventh-largest economy, with a GDP of $2.3 trillion.

Modi says there are concepts he values more than just power: "If you were to ask me to choose between democratic values and wealth, power, prosperity, and fame, I will very easily and without any doubt choose democratic values," he said in a May 2015 TIME magazine cover story.

Read on to meet the yogi, tech-lover, and politician.