Dalit people in Nepal
Dalit people (Nepali: दलित समुदाय) in Nepal are communities historically marginalized under the traditional Hindu caste system and subjected to "untouchability." According to the 2021 Census of Nepal, they comprise approximately 13.6% of the national population, though Dalit advocacy groups often suggest the actual figure may be higher. The term "Dalit" was formally adopted in Nepal during the 1960s as a unifying political identity to represent various groups that were previously categorized as "untouchable" (Paani Nachalne) under the Muluki Ain of 1854.