Five years, four exams, ₹1 lakh in coaching fees; and still, no offer letter. Why? Because while he was studying, someone else was buying the answer key. The KPSC; once trusted like the UPSC; is now under fire for allegedly selling veterinary officer posts for ₹80 lakh each. Over ₹12 crore collected from 24 aspirants, leaked papers, suspended IAS officers, ED raids, and political blame games. And yet, 2.94 lakh govt posts in Karnataka remain vacant. The real tragedy? Not the scandal; but what it does to the thousands who play by the rules. While corrupt networks trade jobs like real estate, honest candidates watch their youth slip away. One activist put it bluntly: 'They’re not just stealing money; they’re stealing futures.' Some want to replace KPSC with KEA. But will that fix the rot; or just shift it? The question isn’t just about who conducts exams; it’s about who still believes in them.