Daporijo serves as the administrative headquarters of the Upper Subansiri district. The town and the district are governed under the administrative authority of a Deputy Commissioner (DC), an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer appointed by the state government. The DC oversees law and order, land revenue, and the implementation of state and central government development schemes.
Local civic administration is managed by a town committee and local panchayats, which handle basic municipal services such as sanitation, local roads, and water supply. Politically, Daporijo falls under the Daporijo Assembly Constituency, electing a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) to the Arunachal Pradesh State Legislature. Traditional village councils (Kebang) also continue to play a crucial role in resolving local disputes and managing community affairs according to customary laws.
