Planning of S&T progress Is a means of real lzatlon of a single S&T policy which Is carried out through the Indicators of all sections of the state economic and social development plan. PRINCIPAL DIRECTIONS OF PLANNING S&T PROGRESS IN THE USSR The . Principal Guidelines· of the USSR economic and social development for 1981-85 and for a period up to the year 1990 have set the task of further acceleration of S&T progress as a decisive factor of shifting the economy to the Intensive way of development and raising the efficiency of social production. As outlined at present. the major ways of real lzlng single S&T policy are as follows: It should be oriented first of all towards the elaboration and coordination of key directions of S&T development. sharp reduction of time spent for creation ·and mastering of new technology. further Increase of Its technical level. reinforcement of Interconnection between science and pro­ duction and of material base of science. 274 PROGNOSTICATING THE BASIC DIRECTIONS OF SCIENTIFIC-TECHNICAL PROGRESS INTRODUCTION Success In the development of the productive forces In the society depends decisively on accelerating the rate of scientific-technical progress. This rate. In turn. Is specified by the productivity of world and national science and technology. Planning the development of the national economy. the basis for rational scientific management. necessitates analysis of rapidly changIng trends and t'he I r factors and versIons. In v lew of these complexities. the development planning of the national economy requires the creation of a tool that would enable the most expe­ dient solutions. Thus, the necessity of optimizing managerial solutions under conditions of lncreaslng·complexltles. Including technical, economic. socio-political and natural factors. by the end of the 1950s. led to the evolution of a new sc:entlflc direc­ tion, namely. prognostication. Prognostication relates to the 
**Analysis**
The text appears to be focused on the planning and development of scientific and technological progress, with an emphasis on accelerating its rate and optimizing managerial solutions. It mentions the connection between S&T progress and the development of the national economy, which suggests that the text is related to economic development. However, the text does not specifically discuss economic development, but rather the role of S&T progress in achieving economic goals.

**Category**
Science and technology, Economic development