Ayan is right that it's basically lack of exposure to modern platforms, but i also think it's mixed with insistence of keeping the basic training of bayonet charge for all in mind - and in our generation it may seem ridiculous, but think about an army that's used / been using acurised (hopefully) rifles as their makeshift sniper or DMR FOR SQUAD LEVEL MARKSMEN - CUM - SNIPERS
> Lee Enfield .303 British = has had bayonet
> Ishapore 2A in .308/7.62x51mm NATO = has had bayonet
> 1A SLR in .308/7.62x51mm NATO = has bayonet
> Dragunov in 7.62x54mmR = has bayonet
and if you count this, even M1903 Sprinfields in .30-06 that we got for ITPB and such border units, has had bayonet
then, INSAS with scope used as makeshift DMR has bayonet, and nowadays, SIG-716I with scope...has bayonet too
and if you look at non-sniping infantry weapons of the Indian Army;
> Sterling 9mm "carbine" has had bayonet
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> Kalashnikovs of all kinds have bayonets
> TAVOR HAS BAYONET
> although induction is limited, JVPC has bayonet
you can see if it goes at squad level, they insist on bayonet for SHTF purposes, and this GSQR, intentionally or unintentionally insisted on following this 'tradition', however idiotic it would seem...
when you look at an army like ours that's stingy to make optics a standard issue thing, their insistence on at least giving a knife to soldiers should be applauded at least
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;
but my recommendation is they move on to issuing pistols as standard issue to soldiers, and to marksmen, a compact SMG or PDWish thing like Asmi would suffice -
baki aajkal picatiny rails ke jamane me log toh pistols par bhi bayonet laga dete hai lol
Oh, and it's not only us who're insistent on bayonets, look at what french did with their free-floating barrel HK416F...
so if what they're seeking as Dragunov replacement is a squad level semi-auto marksman rifle in 7.62x51mm NATO, then bayonet is okay-ish ask, they can perhaps go for handguards-mounted bayonet like how we got it done on SIG-716i
but yes, for modern purpose-build bolt action rifles it's an outlandish thing to ask for.