Dalit is a self-chosen term meaning “broken” or “oppressed” that refers to the communities historically considered “Untouchable” and excluded from the four-fold Hindu Varna system. In the official administrative and constitutional language of India, the list of groups considered Dalit is known as the Scheduled Castes (SC).
There is no single, definitive, all-India list of Dalit sub-castes, as the specific names and numbers vary from state to state and even district to district. The total number of unique Scheduled Castes across India is over 1,100.
However, the major Dalit communities can be grouped by their traditional occupations:
1. Major Scheduled Caste Groups by Region and Traditional Role
The largest and most prominent SC groups are often associated with essential but ritually “polluting” tasks under the traditional caste system.
| Community Name | Traditional Role | Key Regions of Prevalence |
| Chamar / Jatav / Ravidasia / Mochi | Leather Workers, Tanners, Cobblers, and Agricultural Laborers. | Uttar Pradesh (Jatav is dominant), Punjab (Ramdasia/Ravidasia), Bihar, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh. |
| Mahar | Village Servants, Defenders, and Agricultural Laborers. | Maharashtra (The community led by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar; many converted to Buddhism, becoming Neo-Buddhists). |
| Bhangi / Balmiki / Chuhra / Mehtar | Sanitation Workers, Sweepers, and Manual Scavengers. | North India (especially Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi). |
| Madiga / Mala | Agricultural Laborers and Leather Workers. | Southern India (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka). |
| Paraiyan / Pallan / Arunthathiyar | Agricultural Laborers, Drummers, and Manual Scavengers. | Tamil Nadu (Paraiyan is the origin of the English word Pariah). |
| Pasi / Dusadh | Toddy Tappers, Watchmen, and Agricultural Laborers. | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar (Dusadh is a prominent group). |
| Dhobi | Washermen or Laundry Workers. | Found across many states. |
2. Key Terminology and Official Status
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Scheduled Castes (SC): This is the official term used in the Constitution of India. These castes are provided with special provisions, including affirmative action (reservations) in education, government jobs, and legislative bodies.
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Dalit: The preferred, politically empowering term, popularized by B. R. Ambedkar. It signifies pride and rejection of the term “untouchable.”
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Harijan: A term meaning “Children of God” coined by Mahatma Gandhi. While intended to be benevolent, it is largely rejected by the community now for being patronizing and failing to address the structural problem of untouchability.
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Panchama: Historically, a term meaning the “Fifth Varna” (social class), used for groups considered outside the traditional four-fold Varna system (Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vaishya, Shudra).
The official state-wise lists of Scheduled Castes are continuously monitored and updated by the Government of India based on the criteria of extreme social, educational, and economic backwardness arising from the practice of untouchability.