Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday addressed the first batch of Agniveers of the three services, who have commenced their basic training, via video conferencing.

The Prime Minister affirmed that the young Agniveers will make the Armed Forces more youthful and tech savvy while congratulating the Agniveers on being the pioneers of the path-breaking Agnipath Scheme, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO).

Hailing the potential of Agniveers, PM Modi said that their spirit is reflective of the bravery of the armed forces which has always kept the flag of the nation flying high. The experience which they will acquire through this opportunity will be a source of pride for life, PM Mosi said.

"Efforts are underway to modernise our armed forces as well as make them Aatma Nirbhar. In the 21st century, the way wars are fought is changing, the Prime Minister said.

Discussing the new fronts of contactless warfare and challenges of cyber warfare, the Prime Minister said that technologically-advanced soldiers will play a key role in our armed forces. The current generation of youth especially have this potential, and so the Agniveers will play a leading role in our armed forces in the times to come, he added.

The Prime Minister also spoke about how the scheme will further empower women. He expressed happiness at how women Agniveers are adding pride to the Naval forces, and said that he looks forward to seeing women Agniveers in all three forces. PM Modi also recalled how women are leading armed forces on various fronts, citing examples of women soldiers posted in Siachen and women driving modern fighter planes.

"Getting posted in different regions will give them an opportunity to get diverse experiences and they should try to learn different languages and also about different cultures and ways of living. Teamwork and honing of leadership skills will add a new dimension to their personality, the Prime Minister said.

The Prime Minister further exhorted Agniveers to remain curious about learning new things while simultaneously working on bettering their skills in the fields of their choice.