The Bairns fully deserved to avenge their 4-2 defeat at the Caledonian Stadium in September, although it needed a first-ever goal for the club from Dutch defender Gerard Aafjes to give them their fifth win in eight matches.
Falkirk were on top from the start and striker Graham Barrett wasted two early chances, heading wide from a Jack Ross cross and then making a mess of a cut-back from Pedro Moutinho.
Caley Thistle were winning no possession in midfield but almost went ahead by taking the direct route as a long clearance from goalkeeper Michael Fraser caught the home defence napping and John Rankin fired inches over with a left-foot drive from the edge of the penalty box.
Rankin was involved again after 33 minutes but he failed to pick out Don Cowie with the defence badly exposed.
Falkirk then went straight up field to win a corner-kick from which Aafjes sent a glancing header high into the top corner of the net.
Inverness were hugely disappointing in the first half but looked a different proposition after the break and skipper Grant Munro soon tested keeper Tim Krul with an overhead kick.
Bairns boss John Hughes responded by bringing on veteran playmaker Russell Latapy and, as if by magic, Falkirk forced three successive corners.
Caley also made changes with Barry Wilson and Saturday's match-winner Graham Bayne coming on, but Falkirk were creating the better chances.
Michael Higdon fired wide from a difficult angle and Latapy hammered a low free-kick fractionally off-target.
The tireless Moutinho then saw his toe-poke blocked by Fraser and, from the corner kick, Higdon sent a free header over.
Inverness left acres of space at the back as they pressed for an equaliser and, with two minutes remaining, Moutinho shot straight at Fraser when it seemed easier to score, but fortunately for Falkirk it didn't matter.