By Anant Chandak BENGALURU, Feb 20 (Reuters) - India's private sector accelerated in February led by robust demand for goods even as services growth was broadly steady, according to a survey that also showed intensifying inflationary pressures.

India joined a U.S.-led initiative to strengthen technology cooperation among strategic allies in a move Friday that underscores the nations’ warming ties after a brief strain over New Delhi’s unabated purchase of discounted Russian oil.

India is joining the U.S.-led Pax Silica initiative, giving Washington its biggest win yet in the race to shape and influence who has access to advanced semiconductors and AI infrastructure supply chains.

By Aditi Shah NEW DELHI, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Tata Motors is betting that its new low-priced Punch EV will succeed in cracking the dominant budget segment of the world's third-largest car market for electric vehicles,

India joined the US-led Pax Silica bloc, expanded AI manufacturing ties, and outlined plans for sovereign compute, workforce transition, and biotech innovation on Day 5 of the India-AI Impact Summit

Speaking on the sidelines of the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, Gor said the United States has already seen India diversify its oil sourcing and described this as part of a broader commitment between the two sides.

A majority of members of India's interest-rate setting panel view current policy rates as suitable for the economy, according to minutes from the February meeting released on Friday, though two members indicated potential for future rate cuts.

The United States is in "active negotiation" over the sale of Venezuelan oil to India, to help India diversify its sources ‌of crude oil, U. Envoy Sergio Gor said on Friday.

The U.S. and India have finalized a trade deal on Monday after months of negotiations, steadying a relationship that had plummeted to its lowest point in decades.

India's story of growth, insulated from AI exposure, could propel its markets to the front of investors' minds and draw back foreign cash, as a shakeout in bets on artificial intelligence gathers pace elsewhere.

Bill Gates pulled out of India's AI Impact Summit hours before his scheduled keynote address on Thursday, dealing