diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index 9382b74..a095115 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -22,6 +22,16 @@ Please describe in detail how you tested your changes. Steps to Reproduce, etc.
 This section should be thorough enough that reviewers can replicate the testing.
 -->
 
+## Checklist
+
+- [ ] **Jira**: Jira key present (branch name / PR title / PR description) and Jira link filled in above
+- [ ] **PR title**: includes Jira key (recommended: `[PROJECT-1234] ...`)
+- [ ] **Commits**: conventional commits format (`type(scope): subject`)
+- [ ] **Quality**: lint/format/static-analysis run and clean (as applicable)
+- [ ] **Tests**: run and passing; added/updated tests where behavior changed
+- [ ] **Type safety** (PHP/TS): explicit types; arrays/shapes documented where needed; no `empty()` in PHP
+- [ ] **GitHub Actions changes** (if applicable): actionlint clean; avoid interpolating PR title/body directly in `run:` (pass via `env:`)
+
 <!--
 ## Sonar Test Coverage
 If your PR does not pass the SonarCloud Code Analysis, describe why it cannot pass before merging.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 5a86cfe..2e7b4d0 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1 +1,53 @@
-# .github
+# Development standards checklist
+
+Use this checklist when opening PRs across Encodium projects. It is aligned with what our GitHub Actions workflows enforce (ex: Jira ticket verification, commit linting, action linting) and common review feedback patterns (ex: safe shell handling of PR title/body).
+
+## PR metadata
+
+- [ ] **Jira ticket is present and valid** (in branch name, PR title, or PR description) and links to Jira.
+- [ ] **PR title format** includes the Jira key (recommended: `[PROJECT-1234] Human readable description`).
+- [ ] **PR description** explains the *what* and the *why* (not just code diffs).
+- [ ] **Testing Information** is complete and reproducible (steps + expected results).
+- [ ] **Related PRs** are linked when changes span repos.
+
+## Branching and commits
+
+- [ ] **Branch name** follows: `<project>-<ticket_number>-<human-readable-dash-case>` (example: `SHOP-1234-add-user-authentication`).
+- [ ] **Commit messages** follow conventional commits:
+  - Format: `type(scope): subject`
+  - Types: `feat`, `fix`, `docs`, `style`, `refactor`, `test`, `chore`
+  - Subject is imperative, no trailing period
+
+## Quality checks (run locally before requesting review)
+
+- [ ] **Formatting** (ex: Prettier / PHP-CS-Fixer / Pint) is run and clean.
+- [ ] **Linting** is run and clean (ex: ESLint, PHP lint, actionlint).
+- [ ] **Static analysis** is run and clean (ex: PHPStan, TypeScript typecheck).
+- [ ] **Tests** are run and passing (unit/integration as applicable).
+- [ ] **Scope of tests** matches our testing standards:
+  - PHP tests use **Mockery** (not PHPUnit mocks).
+  - Avoid mocking dependencies-of-dependencies; test the unit/system under test.
+  - Prefer data providers over duplicative test cases.
+  - Avoid global/alias/overload mocks; if unavoidable, isolate the test.
+
+## Type safety (esp. PHP)
+
+- [ ] **Types are explicit** (args, properties, returns); avoid “widening” types.
+- [ ] **Array shapes are documented** in PHPDoc using phpstan syntax (no `mixed` escape hatches when generics exist).
+- [ ] **Do not use `empty()`**; prefer type-enforcing checks.
+- [ ] **Alphabetize where order doesn’t matter** (use statements, union types in PHPDoc, constants).
+
+## GitHub Actions and shell scripting (common review feedback)
+
+- [ ] **Run untrusted/user-supplied content safely**:
+  - Do **not** directly interpolate `${{ github.event.pull_request.title }}` / `${{ github.event.pull_request.body }}` inside `run:` scripts.
+  - Pass them via `env:` and read them as environment variables inside the script.
+- [ ] **Quote variable expansions** and prefer `printf` for safely emitting content.
+- [ ] **Avoid leaking secrets** to logs (never echo secret values; redact outputs).
+- [ ] **Action workflows lint cleanly** (ex: `actionlint`) when modified.
+- [ ] **Actions are pinned** to stable major versions (or more strictly, as required by the repo).
+
+## Deployment / infra (when applicable)
+
+- [ ] **Kubernetes/Helm changes** are validated (linting + kube-linter where applicable).
+- [ ] **Observability and runbooks** are updated when behavior changes (alerts, dashboards, operational docs as required by the owning repo).