Delhi Cantonment Board is an autonomous body under the control of Government of India, Ministry of Defence and discharges obligatory and discretionary functions as per the provisions of Cantonments Act, 2006. The Cantonments Act lays down both the mandatory and discretionary functions of the Board such as education, public health, sanitation, roads, street lighting, water supply and birth and death registration. For the purpose of administration and civil representation, the Cantonment Board is divided into eight wards. There are various other rules such as the CBAR-2020, Cantonment Fund Servant Rules 1937, Cantonment Land Administration Rules, 1937 and Cantonment Property Rules, which emanate from the Cantonments Act, 2006.

The Cantonment Board consists of eight elected Members, three nominated Military Members, three Ex-officio Members (Station Commander, Garrison Engineer and Senior Executive Medical Officer), one representative of the District Magistrate. An officer of the Indian Defence Estates Services which is a central civil service is posted as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) as well as the member secretary of the Board. The board is headed by the President Cantonment Board (PCB) who is the Station Commander and also presides over the meetings of the Cantonment Board. The term of the elected Members is of 5 years. The Vice President is elected from amongst the elected members. The MP & MLA representing part/whole of Cantonment area shall be special invitees for the meetings of the Board but without a right to vote.

Firefighting, water supply, public health, street lighting, birth & death registration, horticulture, primary education and sanitation are the prime departments of Delhi Cantonment Board. The various departments of Delhi Cantonment Board collectively operate to strengthen the civic infrastructure of the city.