John Matthai (civil servant)

John Matthai (1886 – 1959) was an Indian economist and civil servant who served as India's first Railway Minister after independence, and subsequently as India's Finance Minister.

Born in Kozhikode, Kerala, Matthai was educated at Madras Christian College and the London School of Economics. He served in various positions within the Government of India before independence, including as a professor of economics and a member of the Tariff Board.

Following India's independence in 1947, he joined the Nehru cabinet as Minister of Railways. He later became Finance Minister in 1948. As Finance Minister, he played a key role in shaping India's early economic policies and oversaw the establishment of the Planning Commission. He resigned from the cabinet in 1950 over disagreements regarding the powers and functions of the Planning Commission.

After his stint in government, Matthai served as the first Chairman of the State Bank of India (then known as the Imperial Bank of India) from 1955 to 1956 and as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bombay from 1957 to 1959.

He is remembered for his contributions to Indian economic policy and for his role in establishing key financial institutions in the newly independent nation.