Balitora chipkali is distinguished from all other species of Balitora by the following combination of characters: a single maxillary barbel on each corner of the gape; upper lip with 9-12 papillae in first series and 3-8 papillae in second series, lower lip with 6 papillae; eye diameter greater than 15% HL; gape of mouth less than 30% HL; snout length 49.6-57.6% HL with snout length less than 4 times eye diameter; body depth less than 15% SL; caudal peduncle depth 6.9-7.8% SL; caudal peduncle length-to-depth ratio less than 3.0, 66-68 lateral line scales; 11 caudal vertebrae excluding compound centrum; third infraorbital sensory-canal tube straight; pharyngobranchial 2 greatly reduced; posterior ceratohyal more than 80% of the length of the anterior ceratohyal and almost round; and 7 dorsal saddles, not reaching lateral irregular crossbar markings (Ref. 109578).