Violent protests erupt across Ballia, Samastipur, and Arrah against the new recruitment scheme into the Armed Forces. Protesters destroyed railway stations in Balia and torched a train in Samastipur, Bihar. Amid the growing violence, the union government has increased the age limit in the Agnipath scheme to 23. The government decided a one-time waiver shall be granted for the proposed recruitment cycle for 2022, under which 46,000 Agniveers will be recruited, because it had not been possible to undertake recruitment rallies for the last two years. “Accordingly, the upper age limit for the recruitment process for Agnipath scheme for 2022 is increased to 23 years,” the MoD said.