There are an estimated 3.2 million Dalit Christians and Muslims in India, according to a 2008 report

But the two groups have not been given Scheduled Caste status & thus, are not enumerated separately in the Census

The caste information available has gaps since some respondents may identify as OBCs...

...and separating OBCs from Dalit Muslims or Christians then becomes impossible

Without the status,

they fail to get the same entitlements as the SCs among Hindus, Sikhs & Buddhists, leaving them vulnerable to the stigma around caste-based occupations

Various benefits and protections guaranteed by the Constitution to the SCs such as SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act that provides for special courts to try offences against marginalised groups, and offer relief and rehabilitation are thus not accessible to the Dalit Muslims and Christians