Defence Minister Shri George Fernandes with the "Best Marching Trophy" winner Major Sheshagiri Rao, the contingent Commander of the Madras Regiment at a function in New Delhi on March 8, 2001.

The Madras Regiment won the conveted title of best overall Contingent in the first Repubic Day Parade of the Millennium. The Regiment has on all the three trophies in this category. This is the first time that a Regiment has bagged all the trophies in the Republic Day Parade.