Which of the following is the highest waterfall in India?

The correct answer is B) Kunchikal Falls. It sits on the Varahi river in Shivamogga district, Karnataka, and drops about 455 m in a single fall, which is the figure usually cited for the highest waterfall in India.

• A) Jog Falls is on the Sharavathi river in the same state. At roughly 253 m it is famous and often called the second highest, so it is a close distractor but not the answer.
• C) Rakim Kund and D) Kevti Falls are not in the top rank of India's great waterfalls. Their heights are far below Kunchikal's.

The core concept is the physical geography of the Western Ghats and Deccan plateau, where rivers fall steeply off the escarpment. For Mains, this links to river-based hydropower and eco-tourism in Karnataka and the Western Ghats.

Note that some lists rank Nohkalikai in Meghalaya higher by plunge height, so check how the question defines 'highest' before answering.

Trap: choosing Jog Falls because it is the most famous and most photographed waterfall.