The present work reports the spectral signatures of intramolecular charge transfer (ICT) reaction in 3-amino- 4-methyl benzoic acid (AMBA). AMBA exhibits large red-shifted emission in various solvents with the emission maxima being highly sensitive to the solvent polarity. Solvatochromic measurements of AMBA on the basis of its steady state absorption and emission properties appears to confirm the operation of photoinduced ICT reaction in it with the ICT state being characterized by a higher excited state dipole moment than that of the ground state. Laser induced fluorescence excitation spectra and dispersed fluorescence spectra of AMBA and its solvated clusters with polar solvent methanol in the cooled jet yield quite distinct evidence for the occurrence of ICT reaction in polar solvent. © 2012 IACS.