Agnipath Scheme: Need of the hour, won’t be rolled back, says NSA Ajit Doval

New Delhi: Amid nationwide uproar over the announcement of the Agnipath Scheme for the Armed Forces, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval has termed the Agneepath scheme as the need of the hour. Ajit Doval said that the atmosphere of the country is changing and now the priority is to secure the country. He added that there is no question of withdrawing the scheme.

Interacting with the media, National Security Advisor said that the structure of the armed forces has to be amended according to the rapidly changing environment.

"Improvement is taking place at every level of the defence sector. The government is buying new weapons for the modernity of the army. We have to make our army a world-class army," he said.

On the Agneepath scheme, Ajit Doval said, "What we were doing yesterday, if we continue to do the same in future, then it is not necessary that we will be safe."

Mr Doval said, "If we have to prepare for tomorrow, we have to change. It was necessary because the atmosphere in and around India is changing rapidly. He said that change is necessary to prepare for tomorrow."

Defence Watch is India's Defence News Centre.