Civically, McLeod Ganj falls under the jurisdiction of the Dharamshala Municipal Corporation in the Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. It relies on the municipal government for public services, sanitation, water supply, and infrastructure. State-level political representation is channeled through the Dharamshala constituency of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly.
Uniquely, McLeod Ganj is also the seat of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA). While the CTA has no legal or territorial jurisdiction within India, it functions as the legitimate governing body for the global Tibetan diaspora. It features a democratically elected parliament (the Sikyong/President) and manages the cultural, educational, and social welfare of Tibetans in exile.