Step 1: Find the initial equivalent capacitance.
Two capacitors of capacitance
\[
8\,\mu\text{F}
\]
each are connected in parallel.
So, the initial equivalent capacitance is
\[
C_i=8+8
\]
\[
C_i=16\,\mu\text{F}
\]
Step 2: Find the initial total charge.
Given battery voltage:
\[
V=10\,\text{V}
\]
Initial total charge stored:
\[
Q_i=C_iV
\]
\[
Q_i=16\times 10
\]
\[
Q_i=160\,\mu\text{C}
\]
Step 3: Find the new capacitance of the modified capacitor.
For a parallel plate capacitor,
\[
C=\frac{\varepsilon_0A}{d}
\]
Capacitance is inversely proportional to plate separation.
The separation becomes
\[
40\%
\]
of the original value:
\[
d'=0.4d
\]
Hence new capacitance becomes
\[
C'=\frac{C}{0.4}
\]
\[
C'=2.5C
\]
Since original capacitance was
\[
8\,\mu\text{F},
\]
the modified capacitance is
\[
8\times 2.5
\]
\[
=20\,\mu\text{F}
\]
Step 4: Find the new equivalent capacitance.
The second capacitor remains unchanged:
\[
8\,\mu\text{F}
\]
Thus,
\[
C_f=20+8
\]
\[
C_f=28\,\mu\text{F}
\]
Step 5: Find the final total charge.
\[
Q_f=C_fV
\]
\[
Q_f=28\times 10
\]
\[
Q_f=280\,\mu\text{C}
\]
Step 6: Calculate the increase in charge.
\[
\Delta Q=Q_f-Q_i
\]
\[
\Delta Q=280-160
\]
\[
\Delta Q=120\,\mu\text{C}
\]
Step 7: Final conclusion.
Hence, the increase in total charge stored is
\[
\boxed{120\,\mu\text{C}}
\]