New Delhi: Infosys Technologies, Reliance Industries, the Tata Group and Wipro were the four Indian companies rated among the world's most respected companies, according to a global survey conducted by the Financial Times and PricewaterhouseCoopers.

N R. Narayana Murthy, Mukesh Ambani, Ratan Tata and Azim Premji were included in the list of the world's most respected business leaders, the survey said.

The Financial Times-PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) survey, in its seventh year, is based on responses from more than 1,000 chief executive officers across 25 countries.

Infosys Technologies again featured among the world's most respected companies, having climbed in the `respect' ranking from last year. It was also recognised in a number of other categories including corporate governance, creation of shareholder value, corporate social responsibility and innovation.

Reliance Industries became one of the top ten most respected energy and chemicals company in the world.

The Tata Group, meanwhile, was recognised as one of the world's foremost company adhering to the values of corporate social responsibility. It also featured among companies recognised for corporate governance.

Wipro entered the elite list, by way of being one of the world's best companies in terms of creation of shareholder value.

General Electric retained the top slot in the global ranking for the seventh year running, while Microsoft was ranked second and Toyota third.

For the third successive year, Bill Gates of Microsoft was chosen as the world's most respected business leader, with former General Electric chairman Jack Welch in second place and Carlos Ghosn of Nissan in third.