The civic administration of the city is managed by the Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC). The PMC is divided into multiple wards, each represented by an elected corporator. The corporation is headed by a Mayor, who serves alongside a state-appointed Municipal Commissioner responsible for executive functions and city planning.
As the capital of Bihar, Patna is the political epicenter of the state. It hosts the Bihar Legislative Assembly (Vidhan Sabha), the state Secretariat, and the Governor's residence (Raj Bhavan). It is also home to the Patna High Court, which oversees the state's judiciary.
The broader Patna district is administered by a District Magistrate (DM), an officer of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), who ensures the delivery of public services, law and order, and land revenue administration.