In this study, the spatial relationships between the monthly mean sea level pressure (MSLP) anomalies and Indian summer monsoon rainfall (ISMR) have been examined using the gridded MSLP data (GMSLP2) for 46 years (1949--1994). Winter MSLP anomalies over NW Europe (south Europe) are negatively (positively) correlated with ISMR. During the strong (deficient) monsoon years, there is enhanced (weakened) poleward pressure gradient over Eurasia. The Europe pressure gradient index, which is an indicator of the winter poleward pressure gradient, is significantly and positively correlated with ISMR. This relationship also suggests a link between the North Atlantic Oscillation and ISMR on inter-annual time scale. The winter pressure gradient over Eurasia has physical linkage with Indian summer monsoon rainfall, through winter snow cover anomalies and springtime mid latitude activities like upper tropospheric blocking highs and stationary wave anomalies.