Things could get worse. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor Raghuram Rajan said last week that the central bank was not comfortable with inflation inflation levels. So, it seems likely that the repo rate, at which RBI lends to banks, would be again raised.

With inflationary figures continuing to surprise on the upside despite tepid growth, we believe RBI is left with no choice but to address the demand- supply mismatch, by hiking the repo rate by 25 basis points to eight per cent coupled with a hike in the Marginal Standing Facility of 25 bps in this week's (review) meeting.

And, if RBI does so, banks are most likely to follow. This time, most banks might raise their lending rates after the central bank does so, as most of them skipped hiking their rates after RBI did so last time or before that. Banks might not absorb the cost this time. Most banks have stuck to small increases in lending rates all of this year, of 10- 20 bps.

So, it could be a good idea to try reducing the interest burden on your loan payments. Banks, typically, increase the equated monthly instalment or tenure when interest rates go up. To keep the same EMI and tenure, you could try to partprepay the loan.

Ideally, one should create a fund which would help during contingency and for such prepayments through equities, so that you earn some profit. He feels a rise of 25 bps might not be ahuge burden. However, some would certainly feel the pinch, especially with high inflation reducing the surplus.

As we are nearing the financial year- end, one way out could be to use all the money you get from reimbursements or the Leave Travel Allowance ( if you have not used it) to prepay your loans and lower the burden. Or, use any other windfall to do so.

In case you are left with a decent surplus every month, you could see if it is possible to increase your monthly loan outgo, to lower your dues and the loan tenure. However, you should be sure of being able to sustain it till the loan is repaid