Finance Ministers: Then & now

When Pranab Mukherjee stands to deliver his budget speech later this month, he will be inching closer to become the finance minister with most budgets to his name. Who holds the record for presenting the maximum budgets? Read on to find out.

  • R K Shanmukham Chetty presented India's first budget in November 1947. The entire exercise was more of a review of the economy and no new taxes were proposed.
    R K Shanmukham Chetty presented India's first budget in November 1947. The entire exercise was more of a review of the economy and no new taxes were proposed.
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  • K C Neogy was finance minister for just 35 days. He was the only finance minister to not present a budget. (Pic not available)
    K C Neogy was finance minister for just 35 days. He was the only finance minister to not present a budget. (Pic not available)
  • The formation of Planning Commission was announced by the third finance minister John Mathai during his budget speech in 1950-51. (Photo: AP images)
    The formation of Planning Commission was announced by the third finance minister John Mathai during his budget speech in 1950-51. (Photo: AP images)
  • CD Deshmukh was the first Finance Minister who had been the governor of the Reserve Bank of India earlier. Deshmukh was the first governor of RBI.
    CD Deshmukh was the first Finance Minister who had been the governor of the Reserve Bank of India earlier. Deshmukh was the first governor of RBI.
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  • Jawahar Lal Nehru was the first prime minister to present the budget when he held the finance portfolio in 1958-59.
    Jawahar Lal Nehru was the first prime minister to present the budget when he held the finance portfolio in 1958-59.
  • Morarji Desai has presented the maximum number of budgets (10) as finance minister. He is the only FM to present two budgets on his birthday in 1964 and 1968. He was born on February 29. (AP images)
    Morarji Desai has presented the maximum number of budgets (10) as finance minister. He is the only FM to present two budgets on his birthday in 1964 and 1968. He was born on February 29. (AP images)
  • Indira Gandhi has been the only woman finance minister so far.
    Indira Gandhi has been the only woman finance minister so far.
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  • R. Venkataraman is the only finance minister to later become the country's Vice President and President. (Photo: AP images)
    R. Venkataraman is the only finance minister to later become the country's Vice President and President. (Photo: AP images)
  • Pranab Mukherjee was the first Rajya Sabha member to become the finance minister. (Photo: AP images)
    Pranab Mukherjee was the first Rajya Sabha member to become the finance minister. (Photo: AP images)
  • Yaswant Sinha and Manmohan Singh have presented five Budgets in a row. (Photo: AP images)
    Yaswant Sinha and Manmohan Singh have presented five Budgets in a row. (Photo: AP images)
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  • Yashwant Sinha presented the budget for 1999-2000 in the afternoon. Earlier, the budget used to be presented at five in the evening on the British pattern. (Photo: AP images)
    Yashwant Sinha presented the budget for 1999-2000 in the afternoon. Earlier, the budget used to be presented at five in the evening on the British pattern. (Photo: AP images)
  • The budget papers are printed in the North Block where the finance ministry is located. Employees of the press have to stay in the ministry till the budget exercise is over. (Photo: AP images)
    The budget papers are printed in the North Block where the finance ministry is located. Employees of the press have to stay in the ministry till the budget exercise is over. (Photo: AP images)
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