Complete List of Finance Ministers of India

The Finance Minister of India plays a crucial role in shaping the country's economy, overseeing the Union Budget, taxation, and financial policies. Here’s a complete list of India’s Finance Ministers, from the first to the current leader.  

Updated On - 17 Sep 2025
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Current Finance Minister of India

Here is a list of the Finance  Ministers of India from its formation in 1947 to the present in 2025:

Name

Duration

Political Party

Nirmala Sitharaman

31-May-2019 to Present

Bharatiya Janata Party

Arun Jaitley

26-May-2014 to 30-May-2019

Bharatiya Janata Party

Pranab Mukherjee

24-January-2009 to 26-June-2012

Indian National Congress

Manmohan Singh

30-November-2008 to 31-July-2012

Indian National Congress

P. Chidambaram

23-May-2004 to 26-May-2014

Indian National Congress

Jaswant Singh

01-July-2002 to 22-May-2004

Bharatiya Janata Party

Yashwant Sinha

19-March-1998 to 22-May-2004

Bharatiya Janata Party

I.K. Gujral

21-April-1997 to 01-May-1997

Janata Dal (United Front)

P. Chidambaram

01-June-1996 to 19-March-1998

Tamil Maanila Congress (United Front)

Jaswant Singh

16-May-1996 to 01-June-1996

Bharatiya Janata Party

Manmohan Singh

21-June-1991 to 16-May-1996

Indian National Congress

Yashwant Sinha

21-November-1990 to 21-June-1991

Samajwadi Janata Party (National Front)

Madhu Dandavate

05-December-1989 to 10-November-1990

Janata Dal (National Front)

Shankarrao B. Chavan

25-June-1988 to 02-December-1989

Indian National Congress

N. D. Tiwari

25-July-1987 to 25-June-1988

Indian National Congress

Rajiv Gandhi

24-January-1987 to 25-July-1987

Indian National Congress

V. P. Singh

31-December-1984 to 24-January-1987

Indian National Congress

Pranab Mukherjee

15-January-1982 to 31-December-1984

Indian National Congress

R. Venkataraman

14-January-1980 to 15-January-1982

Indian National Congress

Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna

28-July-1979 to 19-October-1979

Janata Party (Secular)

Charan Singh

24-January-1979 to 16-July-1979

Janata Party

Haribhai M. Patel

26-March-1977 to 24-January-1979

Janata Party

Chidambaram Subramaniam

10-October-1974 to 24-March-1977

Indian National Congress

Yashwantrao B. Chavan

27-June-1970 to 10-October-1974

Indian National Congress

Indira Gandhi

16-July-1969 to 27-June-1970

Indian National Congress

Morarji Desai

13-March-1967 to 16-July-1969

Indian National Congress

Sachindra Chaudhuri

01-January-1966 to 13-March-1967

Indian National Congress

T. T. Krishnamachari

30-August-1956 to 31-December-1965

Indian National Congress

Jawaharlal Nehru

01-August-1956 to 30-August-1956

Indian National Congress

C. D. Deshmukh

01-June-1950 to 01-August-1956

Indian National Congress

John Mathai

22-September-1948 to 01-June-1950

Indian National Congress

R. K. Shanmukham Chetty

15-August-1947 to 17-August-1948

Indian National Congress

Liaquat Ali Khan

29-October-1946 to 14-August-1947

All-India Muslim League

FAQs on Finance Ministers of India

  • Who is the current Finance Minister of India?

      The current Finance Minister of India is Nirmala Sitharaman, since May 30, 2019.

  • Who was the first Finance Minister of India?

    R. K. Shanmukham Chetty was the first Finance Minister of India.

  • When is the Union Budget presented?

     The Union Budget is presented annually on February 1st.  

  • What is the purpose of the Economic Survey?

    The Economic Survey analyzes India’s economic performance and is released before the Union Budget.  

  • What is the significance of the Finance Ministry for common citizens?

    The Finance Ministry impacts common citizens by influencing taxation, inflation, interest rates, employment opportunities, government subsidies, and economic growth, which directly affect their cost of living and financial well-being.  

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