# Farmer’s protest

• After a day of blockade at Delhi-Haryana border, the protesting farmers has been allowed to enter Delhi and stage peaceful protest at Burari ground in Delhi.

• The central agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar has appealed the protesting farmers to end the agitation and accept the invitation for talks on December 3.

• Delhi government has denied permission to the Delhi police to use 9 stadiums  under Delhi government to be used as temporary jails in case of large scale detention of protesting farmers.

# Indian economy

• India’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contracted 7.5% in the second quarter of 2020-21, following the record 23.9% decline recorded in the first quarter, as per estimates released by the national statistical office on 27th november.

• The country has now entered a technical recession with two successive quarters of negative growth.

• This 7.5% contraction in GDP is better than earlier predicted by many rating agencies which hovered around -10%. RBI also predicted a contraction of 8.6% in GDP earlier.

• Agriculture, which was the only sector to record growth between April and June this year, grew at the same pace of 3.4% in the second quarter.

• Mnufacturing Gross Value Added (GVA) staged a sharp recovery to record 0.6% growth between july and september after collapsing 39.3% in the first quarter.

• Electricity, gas and other utility services saw 4.4% growth in the second quarter from a 7% contraction in quarter 1.

• But the growth for several sectors, including mining, services such as retail trade and hotels and construction remains bleak.

# Low floor buses

• The Delhi transport corporation (DTC) board on 27th november approved a proposal to procure 1,250 BS-VI compliant, AC CNG propelled low floor buses.

• With the induction of these buses, the total fleet size of public run buses in Delhi will reach on all time high of 7851.

• These BS-VI compliant AC buses would be equipped with state of the art facilities like real time passenger information system, CCTVs, panic buttons GPS, and other facilities.

# RTI helpline

• The Madhya pradesh information commission has set up a grievance redressal forum in a bid to bring greater transparency to its functioning and spread awareness on the RTI act,2005.

• This is first such initiative by a state information commission.

• Through this helpline, the applicants can ask for registration details, the next date of hearing, proceedings of previous hearings and copies of orders or directions can be sought by applicants both in Hindi and English.

# TOP scheme

• The union sports ministry has included eight para athletes, including four who have qualified for the Tokyo paralympics, in the Target olympic podium scheme(TOPS).

• These eight athletes are from athletics, shooting, badminton and table tennis.

# Sputnik vaccine

• Russia’s Covid-19 vaccine sputnik V will be produced in India by generic pharmaceutical firm “Hetero”.

• Announcing an agreement with Hetero, sovereign wealth fund RDIF- which is piloting the vaccine annonced more than 100 million doses would be produced in India.

# Today in India’s history

• 28 november 1890 – Mahatma Jyotirao  Govindrao phule died. He led a selfless life devoted to the upliftment of the lower classes of the hindu society. He also started schools for girls and for downtroddens and untouchables.

• 28 november 1956 – Chou En-lai, chinese prime minister came to India.