NEW DELHI- India's president on Sunday approved three controversial agricultural bills that the Parliament had recently cleared, a government order said.

One of the three bills has triggered nationwide protests by farmers, who say the legislation will pave the way for the government to stop buying grain at guaranteed prices and leave them at the mercy of big private buyers.

(Reporting by Neha Arora and Mayank Bhardwaj; Editing by Catherine Evans) ((neha.dasgupta@tr.com; +91-11-49548058; Reuters Messaging: neha.dasgupta.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net (Twitter: @neha_5))