(1) R K. Shanmukham Chetty Explanation: The first finance minister of independent India was R. K. Shanmukham Chetty, who served as the finance minister in Jawaharlal Nehru's Cabinet between 1947-49. On November 26, 1947 Chetty presented the first budget of independent India. Earlier, he had served as President of India's Central Legislative Assembly from 1933 to 1935.