Pangong Tso is administered as part of the Leh District in the Union Territory of Ladakh, India. At a local level, the region falls under the Durbuk Tehsil. Local governance in the villages is managed by the *Panchayat* system, with elected village heads (Sarpanchs) representing the community to the district administration in Leh.
At a broader level, Ladakh is governed by a Lieutenant Governor appointed by the President of India, alongside an Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) which manages local administrative and development decisions.
Crucially, because Pangong Tso is a contested border region, the true prevailing authority in the area is the Indian military and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Access to the lake requires an Inner Line Permit (ILP) for Indian citizens and a Protected Area Permit (PAP) for foreign nationals. The military strictly regulates movement, construction, and boating on the lake.