LUCKNOW, April 26 -- Clutching admit cards in their hands and harbouring hope in their hearts under the scorching sun, candidates thronged examination centres for the Home Guard Enrolment-2025 written examination, many of them grappling with the experience of repeated attempts and shrinking options.

At Indira Nagar Sector 11, a 30-year-old law graduate from Sultanpur stood quietly, requesting anonymity.

"I completed my LLB while working as a salesman in Delhi's Chandni Chowk. The moment I heard about this exam, I travelled back. I just need something stable," he said, reflecting a sentiment that echoed across the queue.

Nearby, 32-year-old Sushil from Hardoi waited outside with his one-year-old child while his wife, Kusum Lata, appeare...