The current in a reverse bias is called leakage current. This current is due to which of the following reasons?

drift of the minority carriers

The correct answer is option 3: drift of the minority carriers

In a reverse-biased p-n junction:

• The majority carriers are blocked by the widened depletion region, so they do not contribute significantly to current.

• A small current still flows, called the leakage current, and this is due to the minority carriers.

Minority carriers:

• In the p-region, electrons (minority) drift toward the positive terminal.

• In the n-region, holes (minority) drift toward the negative terminal.

This movement is driven by the electric field, so it is called drift of the minority carriers.