The government late on Thursday granted a two-year age relaxation for the short-term recruitment of soldiers in the defence services through a one-time waiver to assuage concerns as thousands of young men broke vehicles, blocked rail and road traffic, pelted stones at government buildings, burnt trains, cars and political party offices, and violently clashed with police across parts of northern India in protest against the scheme announced on Tuesday.
The defence ministry’s announcement makes those who are 23 eligible for a career in the military for the next round of recruitment given that the process was stalled for more than two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, officials familiar with the development said.
