Explanation:

Identifying the first cabinet members of independent India is a key historical fact. - **Option A (Abul Kalam Azad):** Maulana Abul Kalam Azad was a prominent leader of the Indian independence movement and served as the first Minister of Education in independent India. He was not the Finance Minister. - **Option B (C. V. Mavlankar):** Ganesh Vasudev Mavlankar was a distinguished parliamentarian who became the first Speaker of the Lok Sabha (the lower house of the Indian Parliament). He did not hold the Finance portfolio. - **Option C (Sardar Patel):** Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, known as the 'Iron Man of India', served as the first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Home Affairs in independent India. He was instrumental in the integration of princely states but was not the Finance Minister. - **Option D (R. K. Shanmukham Chetty):** R. K. Shanmukham Chetty was indeed the first Finance Minister of independent India. He presented the first Union Budget of independent India on November $26$, $1947$. His appointment marked a crucial step in establishing the financial framework of the newly independent nation.