the pericycle is a layer of thick-walled parenchymatous cells located just inside the endodermis of a dicotyledonous root . The sources explicitly state that the initiation of lateral roots and the vascular cambium during secondary growth takes place within these specific cells . Other anatomical layers mentioned, such as the epiblema (the outermost protective layer) and the cortex (thin-walled parenchyma with intercellular spaces), do not perform this meristematic function . Mastering these specific anatomical details is a high-priority strategy for medical aspirants, as NCERT textbooks serve as the definitive source for approximately 95% of NEET Biology questions [3-5].