The apex bank is likely to increase its repo and reverse repo rates at which it lends and borrows by 0.25-0.5 per cent at its 2010-11 annual monetary policy next month, they said.

"It (the high inflation) surely calls for a rate hike, even if it is food driven. The RBI is likely to act by hiking the repo and reverse repo rates by at least 0.25 per cent at its April policy," Crisil Principal Economist D K Joshi, said.

The WPI-inflation, which has already neared 10 per cent, is likely to stay in double digits till June and may ease after that, Joshi said.

Driven by the higher prices of fuels and manufactured goods, the wholesale inflation shot up to a 16-month high of 9.89 per cent in February while the food inflation is currently hovering above 17 per cent.

 Unwinding from its easy money stance, the RBI had hiked the portion of cash banks need to park with the central bank by 0.75 per cent to 5.75 per cent but kept the key-rates unchanged at its January policy review.

Bank of Baroda's Chief Economist, Rupa Rege Nitsure said the headline inflation is likely to touch 11 per cent by end-March and stay in double digits till May-June until the Rabi crop comes into the market.