India may have the largest number of PhD degree holders in computer courses and it may be the provider of a large number of IT tasks globally through the business process outsourcing industry (BPO), but its top official is old school.

Indian Prime minister Manmohan Singh does not own a mobile phone and he does not own a personal email account. His office uses email, leaving Mr Singh less vulnerable from spying activities of the U.S.

The leaks from Edward Snowden said that Mr Singh is excluded from the 35 global leader on whom the U.S. government eavesdrops on their mobile phone communication based on their numbers provided by the White House, Pentagon and State Department officials.

One of the 35 was identified as German Chancelor Angela Merkel, reported German newspaper Der Spiegel. The report said Ms Merkel called U.S. President Barack Obama to clarify the issue and Mr Obama reportedly apologised to her.

YouTube/The Guardian

However, the issue didn't end with the apology because Germany plans to send the country's intelligence chief to Washington to get more answers on the spying reports.

RELATED STORIES