Merge form request

Hello, everyone

I can't figure out how to combine the request form. I have a field active, a checkbox toggle switch. When this is checked, I have active in the request, otherwise it is not.

array:3 [▼
  "name" => "Georgia"
  "currency_id" => "2"
  "active" => "1"
]

 array:2 [▼
  "name" => "Georgia"
  "currency_id" => "2"
]

Active field boolean. Update method in controller. I'm trying to check if a field is actively present set the value to true otherwise not false.

    public function update(Country $country, UpdateCountryRequest $request)
    {

        $is_active = $request->has('active'); // true | false
        $request->merge(['active' => $is_active]);
        
        $country->update($request->validated());

        return redirect()->route('country.index')->with('status', 'Country updated!');
    }

My request form class

    public function rules()
    {

       // $this->merge(['active' => $this->has('active')]);

        return [
            'name' => 'required|string|max:255|unique:countries,name,'. $this->country->id,
            'currency_id' => 'required|numeric|exists:currencies,id',
            'active' => 'boolean'
        ];
    }

But when i call $request->validated(), the state is not checked, active is still missing in the request. Can you please tell me how to add an active field to the request and check the validation?