Current Affairs 08 August 2026

Medicover India Acquired by KKR for $1.5 Billion.

KKR to acquire 100% stake in Medicover India for around $1.5 billion (₹13,000–14,000 crore).
₹3,000–4,000 crore will be used as primary capital for growth and debt repayment.
Medicover India operates 26 hospitals with 6,000+ beds.
Its hospitals are spread across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka.
This is KKR’s third hospital acquisition in three years.
Kotak Mahindra and Rothschild acted as financial advisers.

RBI plans to introduce polymer banknotes by FY28 to improve durability.
₹10 and ₹20 notes will be the main focus of the initial rollout.
Polymer notes will use BOPP-based material and last 3–4 times longer than paper notes.
New notes will include advanced security features to prevent counterfeiting.
Initial requirement: 68,000 reams of polymer banknote sheets.
Production will be handled by BRBNM and SPMCIL.
The rollout is part of RBI’s Utkarsh 2029 agenda for greater indigenisation of banknote production.
Around 60 countries currently use polymer currency.

UP Cabinet approved the Uttar Pradesh Private Business Park Development Scheme 2025.
PPP model: Parks will be developed under the DBFOT framework.
Minimum land: Developers need at least 10 acres.
Concession period: 45 years, with extension possible.
50% space reserved for IT and knowledge-based industries.
Plug-and-play model will provide ready infrastructure for GCCs, R&D units and MSMEs.
Land ownership will remain with state Industrial Development Authorities.
Logistics hubs planned in Sambhal and Greater Noida.

BRICS WAVES Bazaar was inaugurated in Mumbai on August 6, 2026.
Over 500 delegates from 21 BRICS member and partner countries participated.
Focused on the creative and audiovisual industries.
Promoted the Orange Economy, covering creativity, heritage and commerce.
Key sectors: Film, Animation, VFX, Gaming, Music and Digital Media.
Discussions focused on co-production, content financing and intellectual property (IP).
The global creative economy contributes 3.1% of global GDP and over $1.4 trillion in service exports.
BRICS Film Festival will be held alongside IFFI in November 2026.

BIOFACH INDIA 2026 is being organised by APEDA from 6–8 August 2026 in Greater Noida.
The event focuses on promoting certified organic products.
Over 200 exhibitors, including FPOs, FPCs, startups and women entrepreneurs, are participating.
35+ international buyers from 13 countries are attending.
Key products include millets, cereals, pulses, spices and medicinal plants.
Organic products from Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Uttarakhand and Maharashtra are being showcased.