The RAJ, also known as British Rule in India prior to 1947, was a period of direct rule by the British Crown on the Indian subcontinent. It began in 1858 when the rule of the East India Company was transferred to the Crown and lasted until 1947 when India gained independence from Britain. During this period, the British government implemented a number of reforms, including the introduction of English as the official language, the establishment of a modern legal system, and the development of infrastructure such as railways and telegraphs. The RAJ also saw the emergence of a new class of Indian elites who were educated in British universities and served in the Indian Civil Service.