The International Tokamak Physics Activity (ITPA) aims to develop a physics basis for burning tokamak plasmas. The topical group on steady state operation coordinates research in several areas. Joint experiments in several different machines are carried out, concerning the validation of candidates for steady state operation and hybrid operation in ITER. Benchmarking of the actuators available for heating and current drive is another important area of international collaboration. Recently, various simulations for lower hybrid current drive, ion cyclotron heating and electron cyclotron heating and current drive have been compared using the latest code developments. Integrated scenario simulations are performed to establish operating modes in ITER. Several codes used worldwide are compared with particular focus on code to code results, using the same set of input data and using the same energy transport model for the hybrid scenario simulations. Thus far, steady state simulations are focused on developing a range of q-profiles with 100% non-inductive current. This modelling activity can also used to design controllers and control algorithms for advanced scenarios. However, present focus on sharing the experience gained in this area between several experiments. Finally, particular issues for ITER are being addressed by the topical group, including documentation of the results obtained (Progress in the ITER Physics Basis) and optimisation of the plasma start-up phase.