New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in an exclusive interview to media dismissed the Opposition's charge that the Agnipath scheme is not useful, and doubled down on the government's stand that the four-year enlistment programme will benefit a large section of the young, employable population.

"I am fully confident the Agnipath scheme is successful and will remain so. One of the factors behind starting this scheme is to bring more young people into the armed forces," Mr Singh told media.

Under the Agnipath scheme, selected candidates are enrolled as Agniveers for a four-year period. On completion of programme, Agniveers will return to the society as disciplined, dynamic, motivated and skilled workforce for employment in other sectors to pursue their career in a job of their choice, according to the government. Of these, up to 25 per cent of Agniveers will be enrolled in the armed forces as regular cadre.

"The other factor is we should strive to have a section of the population disciplined in the form of Agniveers. When needed, they will have the right skills to help out in the frontline," Mr Singh told NDTV. "It is not a crime to prepare Agniveers to be disciplined," he added.

On the Opposition's allegations that the Agnipath scheme would harm the future of young adults who are just entering the workforce, Mr Singh said: "I want to assure the youths that we will not allow anyone to play with their future. An Agniveer is eligible from 18 years, and will remain so for four years. They will learn new skills, and at the end of the four years will have a few lakh of rupees.