Because Yanam is an enclave of the Union Territory of Puducherry, its governance structure differs from the surrounding state of Andhra Pradesh. The local administration is headed by a Regional Administrator, an Indian Administrative Service (IAS) or civil service officer appointed to represent the Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry.
Yanam forms a single constituency that elects one Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) to the Puducherry Legislative Assembly. At the civic level, local administration is managed by the Yanam Municipality, which is responsible for urban planning, sanitation, local roads, and water supply. Law and order are maintained by the Puducherry Police force, which operates a dedicated district division here.
