The board has senior officials of the ministries of industry, health, labour and railways as members besides representatives of the state governments and salt manufacturers.

Five members of Parliament will be nominated in consultation with the department of parliamentary affairs. The salt commissioner, GoI, will be the member secretary of the board which will have a term of three years.

Representatives of the ministries of surface transport and commerce and also of state trading corporation will attend the meetings of the board whenever necessary.

The functions of the board will be to advise the government on the administration of proceeds of the salt cess levied under section 3 of the Salt Cess Act, 1953, and to make recommendations for measures conducive to the development of the salt industry.

The board will give itssuggestions on establishment and maintenance of research stations, model farms and salt factories and fixing guidelines for improving the salt quality. The board will also make recommendations on how to improve exports and promote and encourage co-operative efforts among the salt manufacturers besides other matters related to the development of the salt industry.