To provide a composition for an ink jet recording medium which shows a significant economy and a high liquid stability and forms an image recording layer with ink absorption characteristics, luster, dryness and water resistance and further, produces an ultra-sharp image, as a useful material for ink jet recording, when the composition is used as an ink receiving layer, and a recording medium using this composition.

This composition constitutes an image receiving layer formed on at least one side of a base material. In addition, the composition comprises a cationic acrylic copolymer (A) containing 1 to 50 pts.mass of a crosslinking group and a cationic resin-modified silica dispersion(B) containing 50 to 90 pts.mass of silica with an average flocculation particle diameter of less than 200 nm. In addition, the recording medium using said composition and the like are provided.