Hello Girja, hope you are doing well!

If you are indicating placement as admission into colleges after a gap year then believe me some students get into medical and IITs after 4 or 5 year gap also. But I think you are pointing to campus placements in companies after you complete your degree.

To be very honest, nobody cares if you are a dropout or not during campus placements. The only thing that matters is your proficiency in the required skills and the way you are defining your knowledge to the interviewer. If you are promising at it then nobody can stop you from getting a good job.

A small number of interviewers ask you about your gap years. But you must be prepared in that case. A reasonable answer will do your purpose. If you are skilled and good at communication skills then you can handle this well.

A gap year after 12th doesn't matter if you are a positive and curious learner in your mind. In our country, most of the job seekers have dropped in one way or another. So, this doesn't matter.

It is never late when you attempt to level up!

All the best!