1. If you have applied at New Delhi Office, then you can certainly keep your hopes high as the New Delhi office is fast in processing file. We have one member here who got his visa just today (with in 10 working days). AND if you have applied at CHC Chandigarh Office, then I am sorry to say, you better forget it atleast for this intake (I may be wrong with my assumption).
2. And yes, its possible to get visa with one year gap. That's not an issue at all, if you can justify the same.
