Havelock is administered as part of the South Andaman district within the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Because it is a Union Territory, the ultimate executive authority lies with the Lieutenant Governor appointed by the President of India.
At the local level, Havelock operates under a Panchayati Raj system (local village councils). The island is divided into several Gram Panchayats that manage local civic duties, sanitation, and community disputes. Law enforcement is provided by the Andaman and Nicobar Police, who maintain a station near the main jetty in Govind Nagar.
Public services on the island are functional but basic, with major administrative and judicial matters requiring a ferry trip to the capital, Port Blair.
