Administratively, Zanskar is a tehsil (sub-district) within the Kargil district of the Union Territory of Ladakh. It is governed locally by a Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) based in Padum.
Democratic representation and local development are managed through the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Kargil. Zanskar elects councilors to the LAHDC, which holds significant autonomy over local taxation, land use, and development funds. Public services are basic but improving; the government is the primary provider of healthcare, education, and infrastructure development, heavily supported by the Border Roads Organization (BRO) for transit networks.