A new definition of atomic charge, Mean Gradient Charge (MGC) is proposed on the basis of 'induced atomic gradient'. Conceptually the connection between electric response to external point charge and Coulomb's law made exact, providing a unique way of extracting atomic charges from quantum mechanical calculations without any numerical ambiguities. Furthermore MGC is relatively invariant with respect to molecular rotation, choices of basis set and even correlation treatments. Preliminary test calculations show that MGC values are in between Mulliken and NPA charges. (C) 2012 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.