The announcement of the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) 2026 results a day before the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) has led to increased anxiety among aspirants in Mumbai. Many students expressed concerns about meeting NEET cut-offs, prompting them to seek support from counsellors appointed by the Maharashtra State Board. Counsellors reported that students are feeling overwhelmed, often needing reassurance and emotional support from their families. Anubha Shrivastava Sahai, representing the India Wide Parents Association, criticized the timing as unnecessary pressure, suggesting that results could have been released earlier or after NEET to help students concentrate. In defense, Trigun Kulkarni, Chairman of the State Board, stated that there was a demand for early results and highlighted the upcoming supplementary exams for those seeking to improve their scores. However, the situation was compounded by the fact that four out of ten official counselling helpline numbers were either switched off or out of service, raising concerns about accessibility. Kulkarni assured that the issue would be reviewed and noted that over 300 counsellors' contact details are available on the Board’s website.