India, Oct. 29 -- The Uttar Pradesh government has tightened character verification rules for candidates selected for direct recruitment to government jobs, saying people involved in violent activities aimed at changing the existing order can be barred from public employment.

The rules apply to candidates selected through direct recruitment in state government departments, corporations, councils and local bodies. Under the order, individuals who belong to organisations whose stated objective is to change the existing order through violent means may be considered ineligible for government employment. Such participation may be treated as evidence that the person remains actively involved, but the presumption can be reconsidered if there is...