Your first class honours will put u in good stead. But that does not make u a govt scholar. Only those whom are sponsored by the govt are considered scholars. Nevertheless, u can still make a mark for yourself if u perform well. But i think it is pointless to keep comparing all the nitty gritty stuff.... e.g. non-scholar with first class vs scholar with 2nd class.... and so forth. These are realities in the civil service.