08-07-2025
Meet Pooja Madhav Wavhal, the UPSC aspirant who wins Rs 9 lakh for sleeping 9 hours every night
Sleep Champion of the Year: In a world where people are struggling to balance work and rest, Pooja Madhav Wavhal, a UPSC aspirant from Pune, has turned the tables. She has been honoured with the title 'Sleep Champion of the Year' and rewarded with a massive cash prize of Rs 9.1 lakh — all for doing something as simple (yet rare) as sleeping 9 hours every night.
Pooja Madhav Wavhal Wins India's Most Unique Internship
The 26-year-old Pooja Madhav Wavhal topped the charts in a one-of-a-kind sleep internship organised in Bengaluru by Wakefit, a home and sleep solutions brand.
Wakefit shared the post about her winning on their Instagram page. Competing against thousands, she consistently maintained 9 hours of quality sleep every night for 60 straight days, securing the highest score of 91.36 and becoming the Sleep Champion of the Year.
What Is the Sleep Internship?
The Wakefit Sleep Internship is an annual initiative now in its fourth season. It started in 2019 as a fun way to raise awareness about sleep health in India. Every year, thousands of sleep lovers apply, but only a few get selected. For the 2024 season, over 1 lakh people applied, but only 15 candidates were chosen, including Pooja.
These selected interns were required to sleep 9 hours every night at home using Wakefit mattresses and smart sleep trackers. Their sleep quality, consistency, and discipline were monitored throughout the 60-day internship.
Fun Tasks and Sleep Challenges
The internship wasn't just about sleeping. Interns also took part in entertaining and educational activities like:
Attending sleep wellness workshops
Making beds while blindfolded
Finding hidden alarm clocks
Participating in a grand finale 'sleep-off'
These challenges were designed to encourage better sleep routines in a light-hearted way.
What Did the Interns Earn?
All 15 finalists, including Pooja Madhav Wavhal, received Rs 1 lakh for completing the program.
The top performer — in this case, Pooja Madhav Wavhal — was crowned Sleep Champion of the Year and awarded an additional Rs 9.1 lakh.
This made her total earnings a whopping Rs 10.1 lakh just for maintaining a healthy sleep pattern of sleeping 9 hours every night.
Eligibility: Who Can Apply for the Sleep Internship?
If you're dreaming of becoming the next Sleep Champion of the Year, here's what you need to know:
Must be 22 years or older
Only one application per person is allowed
Past participants from previous seasons cannot reapply
Employees or relatives of Wakefit are not eligible
Applicants must fill in the form completely and honestly. All communications are shared via SMS, email, WhatsApp, or phone, so correct contact details are crucial.
Why the Sleep Internship Is So Popular
The idea of earning lakhs for simply sleeping 9 hours each night has captured the imagination of India's youth. It's not just about the money — many young people see it as a chance to fix their unhealthy sleeping habits and take better care of their mental and physical well-being.
What Makes Pooja Madhav Wavhal's Win So Special?
While many of us struggle to get enough sleep, Pooja Madhav Wavhal showed the discipline and consistency to stick to a solid sleep schedule. As an IPS aspirant, her daily routine must already be packed with study sessions, yet she still prioritised rest, setting a great example for others.
Her win proves that sleeping 9 hours a night is not just good for health, but can also bring surprising rewards.
Pooja Madhav Wavhal is not only preparing for the UPSC exam but also making headlines as India's Sleep Champion of the Year. With the growing awareness around mental health and self-care, programs like the Wakefit Sleep Internship are reminding us of the power of rest. Who knew that sleeping 9 hours a night could lead to such success?
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