Net charge in a current-carrying conductor is

A current-carrying conductor is electrically neutral, meaning its net charge is zero. In a metallic conductor, current is constituted by a stream of moving electrons [2]. While these electrons drift through the metal lattice under a potential difference, the number of mobile electrons is exactly balanced by the number of stationary positive ions (protons) in the atomic nuclei. According to the principle of charge neutrality, the total charge of a circuit carrying a steady current remains zero [1]. If there were a net accumulation of charge in any section, it would create an opposing electric field that would disrupt the steady flow of current. Although minute surface charge gradients exist to guide the current, the bulk of the conductor maintains neutrality. Therefore, despite the motion of charge carriers, the net charge remains zero [t5].

Sources

1. [2] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: Electricity > 11.2 ELECTRIC POTENTIAL AND POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE > p. 173
2. [1] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 11: Electricity > What you have learnt > p. 192