What if reading a book for 15 minutes could earn you a small cash reward? Singapore has introduced a national reading campaign that does exactly that, using virtual rewards that can eventually be converted into money. The initiative, called ReadSG, was launched by Singapore’s National Library Board (NLB) on September 6, 2026, as part of a five-year national movement to encourage people to make reading a regular habit. The campaign asks participants to spend at least 15 minutes reading each day and record their reading sessions on the government’s CrowdTaskSG platform.The idea comes amid concerns in Singapore about digital distraction and the amount of time people spend consuming short-form digital content.
How does Singapore’s paid reading scheme work ?
The programme also uses features such as reading streaks, personal goals and experience points.
According to the official website of Singapore’s National Library Board, the participants have to read for a minimum of 15 minutes and log the session on the ReadSG Challenge platform. Each qualifying session earns 20 virtual coins. Participants can log only one reading session a day. Once they accumulate 1,000 coins, they can redeem them for S$1(Singapore dollar), meaning it takes 50 logged sessions to reach the first dollar.So, despite headlines about Singapore “paying people to read”, this is not a way to make a significant amount of money from reading. The financial reward is deliberately small. A single qualifying 15-minute reading session is worth just S$0.02. The programme also uses features such as reading streaks, personal goals and experience points. The idea is to make reading a regular activity rather than something people do only occasionally. As per the official ReadSG website, the campaign encourages people to find small pockets of time for reading, including during a commute, while waiting for a bus or over a morning coffee.
Why is Singapore encouraging people to read for 15 minutes ?
The campaign is not simply about getting people to finish more books. Singapore’s National Library Board says the broader aim is to make reading a lifelong habit and a shared culture. ReadSG is a new five-year national reading movement that builds on Singapore’s earlier efforts to promote reading. The 15-minute target is also intentionally small. Instead of asking people to read for an hour every day, the programme sets a duration that can fit into everyday routines. The campaign comes amid concerns about digital distraction and the growing amount of time people spend consuming short-form content.
Singapore is using more than cash to promote reading
The campaign encourages people to find small pockets of time for reading.
ReadSG is part of a wider set of activities being organised around Singapore’s National Reading Month. The official campaign includes ‘Read for Good,’ which encourages people to read for 15 minutes while contributing towards a charity effort. The initiative is running from September 6 to October 7, 2026. Singapore has also organised other reading-related activities, including a Big Book Giveaway on September 19 and 20, as part of National Reading Month.
Can a 15-minute habit last?
Singapore’s experiment is ultimately testing whether a small daily target, combined with incentives and tracking, can encourage people to develop a regular reading habit. Behavioural experts say a small immediate incentive can help people who already want to read but repeatedly struggle to begin. Once the activity becomes routine, the enjoyment of reading itself could potentially take over. But whether that happens will take time to establish.
