docs: Add release checklist step to reference the release-specific instructions file

.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/minor_version_update.md

@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+---
+name: Update Minor Version
+about: Used by our Release Champion to add steps when upgrading minor version
+title: ''
+assignees: ''
+---
+
+# Vx.1 to x.2
+
+## Breaking Changes
+
+What changed that could affect your setup:
+Deprecated flags / behavior removals 
+Deprecated fields 
+Other incompatible behavior or semantics changes between versions
+ (Add list here)
+
+## Custom Healthchecks Added
+
+New built-in health checks added in this release:
+Add any new CRD health support added in this version)
+
+## Kustomize Upgraded
+
+Bundled Kustomize version bump:
+Any breaking behavior 
+Notes about specific upstream behavior changes (e.g., namespace propagation fixes).
+
+## Helm Upgraded
+
+Bundled Helm version bump:
+Any breaking behavior 
+Verify if your charts depend on any features tied to Helm versions.=
+
+## API / Security Changes
+
+Changes in API surface or security behavior:
+Any removal of sensitive fields or changed authentication defaults
+
+## Behavioral Improvements / Fixes
+
+Operational stability and performance fixes:
+Minor stability, reconciler improvements, bug fixes
+
+## Deprecated Items
+
+Flags / behavior to be removed in future releases
+Any deprecated config API or CLI flags
+
+## Upgrade Instructions
+
+Example: CLI upgrade command
+

.github/ISSUE_TEMPLATE/release.md

@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ Target GA date: ___. __, ____
      Thanks to all the folks who spent their time contributing to this release in any way possible!
      ```
  - [ ] Monitor support channels for issues, cherry-picking bugfixes and docs fixes as appropriate during the RC period (or delegate this task to an Approver and coordinate timing)
+ - [ ] After creating the RC, open a documentation PR for the next minor version using [this](minor_version_update.md) template.
 
 ## GA Release Checklist