Pooja Madhav Wavhal, an IPS aspirant from Pune, won the title of India’s ‘Sleep Champion of the Year’ after completing a unique 60-day sleep internship held in Bengaluru. She outperformed 14 other finalists to claim the top spot and a cash prize of Rs 9.1 lakh by averaging nine hours of sleep each night, Education Today reported.
The sleep internship, now in its fourth edition, aims to raise awareness about India’s growing sleep deprivation. Over a lakh applicants applied for the programme, but only 15 participants were shortlisted. Each applicant was provided with a mattress from a popular brand and a contactless sleep tracker to monitor their resting habits every night.
Throughout the internship, they also took part in sleep-enhancing workshops and daily challenges designed to promote better sleep habits. The finalists also competed in fun tasks such as blindfolded bed-making, alarm clock treasure hunts, and even a final “sleep-off” to test their discipline and consistency, the report said.
Wavhal outshone other interns with an impressive score of 91.36, earning the title and prize. All 15 participants who completed the internship were awarded Rs 1 lakh each for their efforts.
The first edition of the internship began in 2019 by the brand and has since completed four seasons. With each round, the program has attracted lakhs of applications. Each year, selected participants, dubbed “sleep interns,” are paid to sleep at least 9 hours a night for 60 consecutive days. The goal is to monitor sleep quality using a contactless tracker and complete simple feedback routines, all from the comfort of their own homes.
In the past, shortlisted candidates were evaluated through online forms, video resumes, and brief interviews. Some fun elements are added too, such as asking about one’s ability to fall asleep quickly or history of nodding off in class.
🚨 Pune-based UPSC aspirant Pooja Wavhal wins ₹9.1 lakh for sleeping 9 hours a night in Wakefit’s 60-day sleep internship, beating 1 lakh+ applicants. pic.twitter.com/rtHdjFEnyp
— Beats in Brief (@beatsinbrief) July 6, 2025
Soon after the post, shared by @beatsinbrief, went viral, social media users reacted to it. “I can sleep 20 hrs per day,” a user wrote. “No I am sure…She was dreaming of becoming IAS,” another user commented.
“I think she is ready for UPSC preparation, as of now she can study for 24hrs without sleep,” a third user reacted.
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